The Spring Break Double Issue
Welcome to our annual Spring Break Double Issue! This issue will be on newsstands March 25 – April 7, 2024. Our next issue will be out on April 8.
In the meantime, please feel free to continue sending your letters to the editor to us at info@northernexpress.com or via our website at northernexpress.com/ contact-us. As a reminder, here are our letter guidelines:
Northern Express is a communitycentered paper that covers local people, places, entertainment, and news. We invite letters to the editor that also address issues in northern Michigan, whether that’s local policies, changes in your community, art and education, or hot topics like housing, tourism, and the environment (just to name a few). If it touches northern Michigan, it is something we want to share! We also welcome letters “in conversation” with any stories, columns, and other letters published in Northern Express.
Letters must be civil, 300 words or fewer, and submitted no more than once per month per person. Letters will be edited for clarity, and letters or portions may be omitted due to space or issues with questionable facts/citations or privacy. We do not print letters that have been sent to or published in other media. To have your letter included, please provide your full name and city of residence in northern Michigan.
Enjoy your spring break!
Northern
VISUAL ART EXHIBIT & CONVERSATIONS
March 29 - May 30
OPENING RECEPTION March 29, 5 – 7 pm
Writing Letters by HAND | April 6, 1 pm
Architecture by HAND | April 13, 1 pm
Music by HAND | April 20, 1
For Traverse City area news and events, visit TraverseTicker.com
947-2425
Editor: Jillian Manning
Finance Manager: Libby Shutler
Distribution Manager: Roger Racine
Sales: Lisa Gillespie, Kaitlyn Nance, Michele Young, Todd Norris, Abby Walton Porter, Caroline Bloemer For ad sales in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne & Charlevoix, call (231) 838-6948
Creative Director: Kyra Cross Poehlman
Distribution: Joe Evancho, Sarah Rodery Roger Racine, Gary Twardowski Charlie Brookfield, Rachel Cara Listings Editor: Jamie Kauffold
Contributors: Art Bukowski, Geri Dietze, Anna Faller, Hanna Lee-Kleb, Abby McKiernan, Al Parker, Nora Rae Pearl, Cameron Thompson, Stephen Tuttle
Copyright 2024, all rights reserved. Distribution: 36,000 copies at 600+ locations weekly. Northern Express Weekly is free of charge, but no person may take more than one copy of each weekly issue without written permission of Northern Express Weekly. Reproduction of all content without permission of the publisher is prohibited.
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Keep your letter to 300 words or less, send no more than one per month, include your name/address/phone number, understand it may be further edited. That’s it.
Email info@northernexpress.com and hit send!
Bye-bye blue ice, hello blue skies! Mackinaw City is gearing up for their annual Meltdown Celebration April 1-15. (That’s only a few weeks away from the reopening of the ferries to the island!) Here are some highlights:
All week long, Pirate’s Adventure Waterpark will offer “Spring Break Splash” deals with admission for just $5. Saturday, April 6, boasts the Taste of Mackinac at Mackinac Bay Trading Company featuring local brews and wines. Later that same day is the Meltdown Gala ($45) at Nonna Lisa’s, with a six-course meal and live music. And while not officially on the Meltdown Schedule, April 4 is opening day for Scalawags— buy a basket of fish and chips and be entered to win free Scalawags for a whole year. Get all the details at mackinawcity.net.
Andrew Rogers will accompany the 2011 Oscar-winning silent film The Artist on the “Mighty” Wurlitzer theater organ on Saturday, April 6, at both 2pm and 5pm at The Music House Museum in Williamsburg. The Artist is a French comedy-drama set in Hollywood between 1927-1932 as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the “talkies.” Tickets, $25. mynorthtickets.com/organizations/music-house-museum
Fresh off her Oscar nomination as an openocean swimmer in Nyad, Annette Benning goes from treading water to drowning in secrets in Apples Never Fall. The new series, based on the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers) dropped on Peacock this March. The Delaneys seem to be the perfect happy family: parents headed into retirement, four grown kids, and a lifestyle that looks like a permanent vacation. But when mom Joy disappears, all the cracks in the family’s facade begin to show, pulling them farther apart until the ties that bind the Delaneys together are ready to crumble to dust. Each episode in the seven-part series is told from a different family member’s perspective, offering clues (and further mysteries) as they work to uncover Joy’s fate.
We think the weekend deserves some celebration—and that would never be complete without brunch! The best version of breakfast is back at Petoskey’s Palette Bistro, and we just can’t get enough of the egg-ceptionally good Salmon Benedict. Inspired by the eatery’s casual-upscale Mediterranean flavors, this twist on a breakfast classic is built on a toasted English muffin and stacked with local cured salmon, two gooey poached eggs, and fresh spinach, then drizzled with creamy hollandaise. Served up with a side of scratchmade home fries (think: golden, skillet-fried potatoes), this dish will have you scrambling for seconds! Treat yourself to your favorite Benedict at 321 Bay St. in Petoskey, and don’t forget to check out their Sunday Brunch Trivia now through May at noon! (231) 348-3321; palettebistropetoskey.com
Traverse City’s community arts venue The Alluvion will roll out the red carpet for the world premiere screening of Marqueetown on March 31 at 7pm. Yes, that’s Easter Sunday; it’s also almost 88 years exactly from the opening night of The Nordic Theater in Marquette. The documentary—100 percent made in Michigan and the brainchild of Traverse Citians Joseph Beyer and Jordan Anderson—follows the crusade to preserve the lasting magic of cinema, even as the world moves forward. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew, and later an afterparty downstairs at NoBo Mrkt. For tickets ($10 plus fees), visit thealluvion.org; proceeds will benefit Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology. For more on the film, including other upcoming showings around the region, head to marqueetown.com.
April 1 is—no fooling—the start of the reconstruction of Eighth St. and S. Union in downtown Traverse City. (Just when you thought you’d mastered the detours for the Parkway!) The project’s scope includes a full redo of the intersection with new concrete pavement and brick crosswalks. Expect the intersection to be closed to cars, bikes, and pedestrians for the duration of the work, though the city says access to all businesses and the Old Town Parking Garage will be maintained throughout the duration of the project. Team Elmer’s is expected to finish the reconstruction by the end of April, weather permitting. Detour mapsare available at traversecitymi.gov/projects/20232024-pavement-preservation-project.html. And P.S. At the end of April, the Garfield/Potter roundabout work begins, and that intersection will also be closed until its completion in June. Good luck, travelers!
Detour Destination: Northern Express is committed to highlighting businesses in the construction zones of northern Michigan this season.
May is the prime birding month in northern Michigan, but with spring making a slightly earlier appearance than usual, now’s the time to stock up on gear so you don’t miss a single flash of feathers. Your first stop: Wild Birds Unlimited in Traverse City, home to bird feeders, bird baths, bird houses, bird seed—basically if the word “bird” is in the name, you can find it there. Oh, and let’s not forget live mealworms, nesting material, windchimes, and all kinds of home garden décor. Find the shop at 1211 East Front Street in Campus Plaza (just before the start of the Grandview Parkway reconstruction at the Garfield/US-31 intersection). And if you can’t make it in, call (231) 9460431 or visit order.wbu.com/traversecity; orders over $75 are delivered free of charge.
Legend has it that this German beer style originated in the 17th century by Berlin monks, who relied on the dark, full-bodied brew to sustain them through the fasts of Lent season. Some reports say that the monks even gave the beer the nickname of “liquid bread.” To this day, you’ll see doppelbocks crop up on tap lists around Mardi Gras or during Lent, and we can’t complain! Stone Hound’s Devil’s Dive Doppelbock—named after a big hill on Old Mission Peninsula—is the perfect example of the form. It’s a hefty, dark German lager with a boozy 8.2 percent ABV and a flavor smorgasbord packed with hints of bread, hazelnut, caramel, vanilla, figs, dark cherries, and toasted oak. Grab a pint at 3593 Bunker Hill Rd. in Williamsburg. stonehoundbrewing.com
steven Tuttle
Have you filed your tax returns yet? No? The deadline for the annual unpleasantness approaches rapidly.
Our tax code can be a nightmarish morass of nearly inexplicable rules and regulations. It is so big the Government Printing Office has to produce it in two volumes; one of 1,404 pages and the second a much tidier 1,248 pages
It is a common assumption that most of us somewhere in the middle of the income stream pay most of the taxes while the very rich pay little or nothing and the very poor pay little or nothing. The cliché is that we subsidize folks at both ends of the income spectrum. It turns out that’s only partially true.
According to the National Taxpayers Union, the top 1 percent of earners—those earning at least $682,577 or more annually—are paid about 24 percent of all earned income but pay nearly 46 percent of all federal income tax. At the other end, the bottom 10 percent of earners paid about 2.3 percent.
(That top one percent also typically have plenty of passive income like stocks, annuities, bonds and other so-called nonearned income. And they control almost 90 percent of the total wealth when all their assets are included. Whether or not their 46 percent of federal income taxes represent a “fair share” or not is part of the debate.)
It may be that rich individuals are not the problem, but the companies they own or run could be instead.
The Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness, both admittedly left-leaning advocacy groups, analyzed 35 large U.S. companies that paid little or no taxes over the last several years. They did manage a combined $1.8 billion in tax refunds and paid their executives $9.5 billion in bonuses.
For example, between 2018 and 2022, Tesla—whose primary owner is either the richest or second richest man on the planet—made $4.4 billion in profit but paid exactly zero in federal income taxes. In fact, they had so many incentives they not only skipped paying taxes, they managed a $1 million refund and were able to pay their top executives $2.5 billion in bonuses.
Tesla was hardly alone. Ford made $7.8 billion in U.S. profits during that same period, awarded its executives bonuses worth $355 million, but paid only $121 million in taxes, about 1.2 percent of their profits.
Other industries were equally skilled at avoiding taxes while being refunded some of the money the rest of us paid.
From 2018 through 2022 T-Mobile made an impressive $17.7 billion in earnings and paid their executives $675 million in bonuses. They also spent $9 million on lobbying efforts, which must have worked because they hauled in $80 million in tax refunds during that time. Unlike T-Mobile, Netflix actually did pay federal income taxes, nearly $236 million. But it
was an anorexic 1.6 percent of their $15.1 billion earnings.
The stereotypical poster children for high profits and low tax paying are the oil and gas companies. They make easy targets given their typically stratospheric profits and the waning popularity of their products.
So Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan group monitoring income tax collection and expenditures, took a look at the tax records of the 20 largest U.S. oil and gas producing companies. Those companies claimed to pay an average rate of more than 20 percent, but deferrals and other deductions put the actual rate at less than 12 percent. The bottom half of those 20 companies paid less than 4 percent.
Corporate tax rates were lowered from 35 percent to 21 percent during the Trump presidency, and we were told that would spur hiring and raises for existing employees, create business expansion, and increase investment. What it mostly spurred was corporations buying back as much of their own stock as possible and paying huge bonuses to their executives while federal revenues decreased and nearly $2 trillion was added to the national debt, according to the Tax Policy Center.
President Joe Biden wants to raise the corporate rate from 21 percent back to 28 percent, but the rate isn’t really the biggest problem.
Corporate America and their lobbyists can’t be blamed for successfully convincing our elected representatives they deserve deductions for almost everything. They always claim the latest deduction or loophole or subsidy is critical to provide jobs and boost the economy. It isn’t clear that ever actually proves true.
We don’t need higher corporate tax rates; the current 21 percent would be more than enough if it was actually paid. It’s the endless list of deductions, tax breaks, and loopholes big enough to steer yachts through that need reforming.
Right now, Michigan is going through a rapid transformation. A total of 5,489 infrastructure projects laying ground across both peninsulas will receive more than $45 billion from laws passed under President Joe Biden. The Biden administration is flipping the script in positive ways for lasting change that deserve your attention, especially in rural communities and small towns. At Progress Michigan, we created a website for you to track the progress on these vital infrastructure projects— BidenBuildsMI.com—and to break down where these dollars are going and what they’re being used for.
Expanding broadband access is another game-changer for northern Michigan’s rural communities. Internet access is an absolute necessity for basics like education, healthcare, and business, but also to connect with our loved ones. The Biden administration’s plans to invest in broadband infrastructure promise to bridge the digital divide, empowering residents and businesses with equal access to opportunities.
Out of all 50 states, Michigan received the fourth largest share of IIJ funding from the Broadband Equity Access Deployment
This is a moment to forge rural resilience, meaning that regardless of your ZIP code or income, you deserve basic needs like internet and housing.
Rural America continually gets left out of the economic transformation that’s happening across the country. Luckily, historic investments in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJ), and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are putting shovels in workers’ hands and resources where they need to be so that no community in America lacks the basic needs that folks need to thrive in the 21st century.
As these ambitious infrastructure plans are cemented into the ground (pun very much intended), Michigan has so much to gain. Biden’s plans not only address the long-standing infrastructure gaps in rural communities but will set forward a path for economic resilience. Those of us who live in small towns have often been ignored by policymakers, which has led to the decline of once-thriving areas. And outcomes in Tribal Nations fare even worse, in large part because they don’t often get a say in how federal resources and policies will impact their own communities.
The aging roads, bridges, and utilities in Michigan are an expensive burden for residents and businesses, but things are changing. We can thank IIJ for funding the $14.5 million project to resurface US31 in Emmet County, $478 million for the Soo Locks, more than $6 million in improvements for the Cherry Capital Airport, $3 million for transportation for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and countless more projects of all sizes.
These enhancements to our transportation infrastructure will improve safety and accessibility by allowing goods and people to travel on better paths while keeping northern Michigan a place where workers and families can be healthy and thrive.
(BEAD) Program, according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Many of these investments are being felt in Tribal communities as well. As these dollars come to our state, the newly-minted Michigan High Speed Internet Office that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established will oversee this transformation that will be felt for generations.
Almost every person in northern Michigan has something to say about the state of the housing situation here and the ability to raise a family. What makes these infrastructure plans so promising is that they look at the whole picture, including providing solutions for housing and social services.
Taking a closer look at a couple of these investments: there’s $3.7 million in funding for childcare in Alpena; $864,993 for Tribal housing in Suttons Bay; $220,000 for Kalkaska to replace a filter to get iron out of their water; $270,000 to offer asset limited households assistance to pay their mortgage and utility payments so working folks in Roscommon County don’t lose their homes; and $150,000 for the Traverse City West Middle Child and Adolescent Health Center to provide behavioral and mental health services to students. These critical projects will lay the groundwork for more prosperity across the entire region.
This is a moment to forge rural resilience, meaning that regardless of your ZIP code or income, you deserve basic needs like internet and housing. We’re also ensuring that we leave a better future for our kids. Ultimately, we need federal, state, and local governments alike, including active engagement from community members, in order to make all of these investments a reality and align with our future.
Sam Inglot is the executive director of Progress Michigan, a nonprofit communications advocacy and government watchdog group.
OPENING EARLY!
9am-6pm
SATURDAY, APRIL 20
OUR LARGEST RSD ORDER YET
• Massive collection of clean used vinyl we have stashed just for this
• Deals on equipment, speakers and merch!
1015 Hannah Ave. - Traverse City 231-947-3169 RPMRecords.net
O Tempora O Mores! Oh the times, oh the culture. This Latin phrase relates to both the 18th century and our current times.
Are Originalists—those who think we should base the interpretation of our country’s founding documents on the times and the views of their crafters—basing their theories on actual history? This is not just a pedantic question; it affects legal decisions being made today, from the lowest to the highest courts in the land.
There is so much that our founding fathers said and wrote that belies what today’s Originalists are saying. Our founding documents are being subjected to gross misinterpretation, and we are past due a discussion based on verifiable fact. Because there is so much to consider in relation to this, I thought we should narrow the discussion.
When we look at Originalism, two things stand out to me: The separation of church and state, and the 2nd Amendment. If Originalists want to draw upon the original meaning of our founding documents and the intentions of our founding fathers, we need to look at both issues.
There are those who would have us believe the United States should be a Christian nation guided by Christian principles. The problem is, the founding fathers, including our first three presidents, believed and stated clearly that there should be a separation between church and state.
President George Washington stated that, “To this consideration [drafting a Constitution] we ought to ascribe the absence of any regulation, respecting religion, from the Magna-Charta of our country.” He also wrote to the United Baptist Churches of Virginia about “…the horrors of spiritual tyranny.”
Our second President, John Adams, signed the Treaty of Tripoli, which stated “... the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” And he wrote that the government was not based “…under the influence of Heaven…” but by using “… reason and the senses….”
Thomas Jefferson, president number three, described the separation of church and state as “…building a wall of separation….” in his letter to the Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut.
Moreover, John Jay co-authored the Federalist Papers advocating for the ratification of the entirely secular U.S. Constitution—despite his being a devout Christian.
In addition, the phrase “under God” was not added to the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954, and the pledge itself wasn’t published until 1892.
Based on these statements, and the wording of the 1st Amendment of our Constitution, what do Originalists today and those advocating for these ideas base their claims on?
As for the 2nd Amendment, it begins, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state…” The founders intended a militia that could come to the nation’s defense when needed but were distrustful of a standing army and what might ensue therefrom.
Today, with our current need for a large standing army and many state national guards, how can Originalists justify the personal use of AR-15s and other automatic and semiautomatic weapons that have reason to be used only in a military setting? When our original documents were drawn up, militias were still using flintlocks. Personal weapons with the destructive power of those today would have been inconceivable to our founding fathers.
Although our country’s founding generation certainly esteemed the idea of an armed population for the security of the nation, they were also ardent supporters of gun regulations. Gun regulation and gun ownership have always existed side by side in American history. The 2nd Amendment poses no obstacle to enacting sensible gun laws. When it comes to gun laws, today’s Originalists are tilting at windmills. They need to look more closely at our founding documents and read the history of our founders.
An important thought on gun ownership of our founders was the collective rights view (the need for defense of the nation) vs. an individual rights view. Our founders’ intent was definitely the collective rights view.
Many of their ideas on regulation were based on English common law of the day. Looking back, these included no general right of armed travel and certainly no right to concealed weapons.
Common law also judged that one had a duty to retreat whenever possible and not stand one’s ground. Using deadly force was justified only when there was no other possible alternative. Exception was made under the so-called “castle doctrine,” which allowed the use of deadly force if the aggressor was in one’s home. A more aggressive view of self-defense emerged after the Civil War.
Our original fathers spoke and wrote about our democratic republic and what would be needed to maintain it. Those founders must be rolling over in their graves at the ideas now being promulgated in their names.
Stewart MacLeod earned a BA in History at Albion College and an MA in Ottoman History at the University of Michigan. He then spent 30+ years as a Turkey area analyst for the U.S. government before retiring to Traverse City.
There is little that makes a Michigander happier than the promise of spring. A warm breeze, lingering evening sun, and the scent of petrichor signals that life is finally awakening from its frosty suspension.
Another sure sign of the season: spring break. As schools close down, families get moving, whether that’s to warmer climes or to adventures here in northern Michigan. If you’re among the latter group, we’ve curated a list of budget-conscious events for all ages to keep the kiddos busy and the fun flowing for the next two weeks…plus some fun activities for the grown-ups, too.
1. Babies on the Farm Festival: Petoskey
March 21 - April 22
Kiwidinok Farm is turning up the cute factor with their month-long Babies on the Farm Festival. They invite you to visit and meet the newest members of the farm, from chicks and lambs to little alpacas and young yaks. Tours are held at 11am, 12:30pm, and 2pm during the farm’s regular hours on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with tickets at $10 (or $9 for groups of three or more). kiwidinok.com/page/10230/events
March 25-29
What better way to occupy the kids over the break than by learning something new? The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is offering a “Tour of the Solar System” experience the week of spring break, aka a vacation to the stars. Handson stations will walk kids through the ins and outs and fun facts of our solar system, from the sun to each and every planet. The program is free with admission ($9), and reservations are highly recommended as this week is a busy time for the museum. greatlakeskids.org/tickets
March 26-28
Need somewhere to drop your offspring for a day or three so you can enjoy some peace and quiet? Don’t worry, they’ll have their fun too! This is a great option if your kids are feeling antsy during their spring break and need to burn off steam with their fellow youths. From March 26-28, Grass River Natural Area in Bellaire offers Spring Day Camp for children ages 7-12. They’ll hike the trails, learn how to build a bonfire, and even tap maple syrup trees! The program is offered for three days, but campers are able to take part for one or two days if preferred. Space is limited and pre-registration is required, so visit grassriver.org/spring-camp. html to sign up ASAP; $150 per camper.
March 30
This annual bash has become an early spring staple for Harbor Springs with the help of Northern Lights Recreation, and as usual, they’ve pulled out all the stops for their libations and prizes. Between strikes, kids can get a sugar buzz out of free hot chocolate and donuts from Johan’s and ice cream from Harbor Ice Cream, Soup & Sandwiches. All attendees will receive a free bowling card for use at Northern Lights Recreation, and Rocking Horse Toy Co. will offer a free gift for littles. Join the fun from 12pm-2pm at the intersection of State and Main. harborspringschamber.com/events/details/bowling-down-main-street-2024-13764
March 30
Easter is coming; it’s time to hatch a plan. Lake Ann Farm packs a lot into one outing, providing great value for the $5 per person entry fee (ages 2 and under are free). Their Saturday shindig features an Easter egg hunt, a petting zoo, and pony rides, which are offered for an additional $5. Be sure to arrive by 12pm to take part in the Easter egg hunt, which offers a golden egg with a special prize! More details are on Lake Ann Farm’s Facebook page; find the fun at 2526 Lake Ann Road in Interlochen.
April 4
The Dennos Museum Center welcomes Grupo Folklorico Xochiquetzal, a group of local dancers working to bring awareness of Latino culture and music to northern Michigan. The show runs from 4-5pm at Milliken Auditorium and will feature dance styles from Mexico and Panama. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-17; dennosmuseum.org/events/ milliken. And P.S. Don’t miss the “Spring Break at the Museum” promotion at the Dennos March 23-30 (closed March 25), where kiddos get free admission with an accompanying adult.
April 5
April 5
On Lake Michigan’s cerulean shoreline, Charlevoix welcomes visitors for the final “First Fridays” event of the season. April 5 from 4pm-8pm, enjoy a sweet treat with the celebration of National Caramel Day. That means a caramelthemed cocktail trail, plus a prize station and a magical tiny door scavenger hunt. Learn more at downtowncharlevoix.com/ first-fridays.
Fear not, grown-ups, we didn’t forget about you. For a night out on the town packed with stand-up comedy, check out The Future of Comedy Show at BJ’s Catering and Event Center in Gaylord. Featuring nationally touring headliner, Mike Ball, the show also includes Big Juicy, Kate Brindle, and Nick Kelley. For tickets ($30), head to universe.com/events/the-future-of-comedy-show-at-bjs-catering-and-eventcenter-gaylordmi-tickets-2L5DQV.
April 5
Swing and sway with John Jorgenson, a mainstay in the world of bluegrass. The Cheboygan Opera House hosts the “supergroup” band made up of awardwinning musicians who have toured with the likes of Dolly Parton, John Denver, Earl Scruggs, and Bonnie Raitt. Tickets are $25-40 for adults (with a $5 discount for veterans) and $10 for students. A cash bar with beer and wine will be offered at this event; the show starts at 7:30pm. theoperahouse.org
Found along the charming streets of downtown Boyne City is a hidden gem, once known as the Second Ward School, brimming with the unique charm that only a century of history can bring.
Built in 1912 and reportedly operating until the early 1960s, the walls of the Boyne Schoolhouse once echoed with the laughter and chatter of eager young people ready to learn. After its schoolhouse days, the building underwent several transformations, ranging from an organ-manufacturing facility to a municipal building, then a community center and even a dance hall in later years, until its transition into private ownership in the 1980s.
Eventually, the once-vibrant building fell silent. Its halls were emptied and its windows boarded up—forgotten and overlooked, silently awaiting its next chapter.
The People
It was just a few years ago a dynamic quartet emerged, determined to revitalize the local landmark.
With a passion for preservation and a knack for renovation, Eddie and Lesa Louch—longtime visitors of Boyne— alongside Dave and Carolyn Hendricks, began the process of purchasing the building in 2020.
Dave says that although the schoolhouse was a “very cool old building,” it had also become “a huge eyesore” and he didn’t want to see it demolished. The motivation
behind the purchase was “wanting to create something … to take something old and add to it and make it new again.”
After the first couple of walk-throughs, the concept for the lofts started to come together. The group knew they could fit four to six flats in the space, but didn’t know the full layout until they got going with their architect. In the meantime, there was the approval process for the project, which Dave says had broad community support and only a few naysayers.
“We got a lot of positive feedback from the community,” he adds. “Anybody who knew what it used to be and could see it now is pleasantly surprised. I would hope it brought the value of the neighbors’ homes up around us.”
But upon signing the final paperwork, a seemingly insurmountable challenge had arisen in the form of COVID-19. With the world on pause and most industries impacted, including construction, every task from finding workers to finding building supplies came with a variety of complications that proved impossible to work through, forcing the team to stop before they could begin.
But the new owners refused to be deterred and spent the remainder of the year creating a clear vision to execute as soon as regulations allowed. As small business owners and serial renovators, Eddie (Crooked Tree Nursery and Landscaping) and Dave (Elite Coatings) are familiar with rolling up their sleeves and getting to work, which is exactly what they did in 2021 when restrictions were lifted.
The schoolhouse is over 100 years old, and has cycled through a half dozen different uses over its life.
The Process Struggling to find enough workers for the project post pandemic, they showed up almost daily for 14 months with their hammers in hand, a small local crew, and a DIY attitude, ready to do whatever it took to complete the project and revive the 110-year-old building to its former glory.
It quickly became clear that of the dozens of renovation projects the two couples have completed, the journey to resurrect the 10,000-square-foot Boyne Schoolhouse into rentable lofts would be the most difficult project they had ever taken on—and the most expensive.
“Almost nothing was salvageable except
the subfloors, the roof, and the walls. Everything else had to be completely ripped out,” Eddie says, “but we did manage to save the staircase railing and the front window as small tokens of the history.”
According to Dave, the most challenging—and perhaps the most interesting—part of the process was cleaning out the belongings of the previous owner, who had owned the schoolhouse from the early 1980s. By the time they were done, the building was “a very bare bones shell.”
While they didn’t have any HGTVworthy drama in the reno—you know, when homeowners find out their foundation is shot and the budget is blown—there was still a lot of work to be done. New steel beams were added in the basement, custom porches and patios were built for each loft, and just about every inch of the space inside was built up from scratch.
Dave, with his expertise in commercial flooring, lent his skills to ensure every surface bore the mark of quality and craftsmanship. Meanwhile, Eddie’s background in renovation and degree in furniture design infused the space with an artisanal flair, transforming each corner into a work of art.
Fast-forward a year and a cool $1.6 million—a far cry from the $9,800 that was originally borrowed for the building in 1912—and the lofts were completed in
spring 2022 and began receiving bookings shortly thereafter.
Today, Boyne Schoolhouse Lofts offers six condominiums, each named with homage to the local surroundings (think “Bunny Hill” for the ski bums and “Lake Lookout” for the beach bums).
Step inside any one of the suites (which accommodate four to six guests), and you will find a complete kitchen with stainless steel appliances, modern living areas adorned with cozy industrial decor, high ceilings, gas fireplaces, luxurious beds, and flat-screen TVs throughout. Outside, guests are invited to explore the expertly designed greenery, where a fire pit and grill offer the perfect setting for alfresco gatherings and starlit nights.
Dave says the reception for the lofts among visitors has been strong. “Summertime has been great,” he tells us. “I think by far that’s our busiest time up there. Fall has actually also been pretty good.”
While winter—especially a snowless one— and spring are slower, Dave adds that they’re looking forward to being nearly fully booked for the heart of the summer season between mid-June and mid-August.
Whether you’re a history buff, a DIY enthusiast, or a local looking for a staycation, Boyne Schoolhouse Lofts invites you to step inside and discover a world where the past perfectly pairs with the present.
Learn more at boyneschoolhouselofts.com.
Before we begin to stash our coats and put winter behind us, let us remember what years past have taught us…fake spring has arrived. The higher temps are showing us what is to come, but we will still have to get through some cold days first.
That’s what inspired me to bring out these family recipes that have become tradition throughout the years. Warming and delicious, these dishes will help you savor winter’s departure while you await true and lasting spring weather. Special ingredients used include northern Michigan’s own Cherry Republic Montmorency Dried Cherries, Augusta Mills Baking Flour from MI Market Suttons Bay, and root vegetables from 9 Bean Rows (call to check availability).
A soda bread for the books with cherries you won’t forget.
Ingredients
• 1 cup Cherry Republic Montmorency Dried Cherries
• 1 Earl Grey tea bag
• Boiling water
• 1 cup and 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 1/4 cups Augusta Mills Baking Flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons sanding or turbinado sugar
Instructions: Put the cherries in a small cup. Add the tea bag and top with enough boiling water to cover. Let sit for one hour. Drain cherries. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place a skillet or Dutch oven inside to preheat. In a medium bowl, combine milk and lemon juice. Let sit for 10 minutes. Whisk in the oil, sugar, and extract. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Toss in cherries. Add milk mixture. Mix in a folding motion until blended and no dry spots remain.
Shape the dough into a ball. Place on a large piece of parchment paper and flatten slightly. Brush top with cream and sprinkle on sugar. Cut a shallow X on top.
Carefully take out the hot pan from the oven, lift the dough using the parchment, and place inside. Return to the oven. Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, until golden and hollow when tapped on the bottom. The bread is done when a thermometer inserted in the center reads 190 degrees. Let cool for at least 30 minutes. Serve in thick wedges with salted Irish butter.
A tender biscuit atop creamy and satisfying vegetables.
Vegetable Ingredients
• 5 small to medium potatoes, peeled
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 12 oz. frozen sweet peas
Cream Sauce Ingredients
• 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 cup flour
• 4 cups milk
Rosemary Garlic Biscuits Ingredients
• 3 cups Augusta Mills Baking Flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups milk, plus extra to brush
To Make the Vegetables: Boil potatoes until almost fork tender, about 25 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly. In a
large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrots, onion, garlic, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown. Cut potatoes into 3/4 inch dice. Add to the pot along with peas. Cook for one minute, then take off the heat.
To Make the Cream Sauce: Combine turmeric through salt in a small bowl. Set aside. In a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic, cook for 30 seconds. Add flour, cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Stir in spice mixture. Slowly work in milk in a steady stream while whisking constantly. Bring to a bubble for one minute. Take off the heat. Pour over vegetables. Gently fold until mixed. Pour into a large casserole dish.
To Make the Rosemary Garlic Biscuits: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together flour through garlic powder. Make a well in the center. In a small cup, whisk together oil and milk until smooth. Pour into well. Mix until a dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface, cut into 15 pieces. Shape into loose rounds, place on top of vegetables. Brush with a little milk. Bake for 40 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned. Let cool for 20 minutes before serving.
Nora Rae Pearl is 99 percent foodie and 1 percent chef. When she is not writing about food, she can be found waiting in line at the farmers market hoping to get a croissant before they run out. Photo credits Cody Werme.
130+ Years of the Boyne River Inn
By Geri DietzeFor several years, Boyne City residents and visitors were impatiently waiting for the reopening of the Boyne River Inn, a popular downtown landmark for a good drink, a great meal, and a river view. After a seemingly endless round of will it/won’t it, the iconic eatery finally reopened its doors in May 2023.
Part of the excitement is the knowledge that popular local chef Russell Yardley has returned, and not only that—he is now a partner in the enterprise.
From a young age, Yardley had a place behind the line in just about all of Boyne City’s favorite spots, and patrons would quite literally follow him from one locale to another. In 1975, the preternaturally talented 17-year-old, just out of his high school culinary program, started working at Boyne City’s Granary, and soon he was putting out 100-plus dinners by himself in what was Boyne’s busiest—and quirkiest—tablecloth establishment. (You had to be there.)
After working his way around all of Boyne’s popular eateries, Yardley decamped to Le Cordon Bleu, spending one year each in London and Paris, graduating first in his class in 1991. A stint as head chef at Stafford’s Pier in Harbor Springs further cemented his bona fides as an in-demand chef.
Yardley planned to buy the Boyne River Inn (BRI) in 2020, but the deal fell through. In the interim, he was tiling a bathroom (Yardley is a highly skilled stone mason) on a new vacation home owned by Igor and Juliana Ilijovski, Detroit area business owners. Discovering that their tile guy was also a Cordon Bleu chef who wanted to purchase the BRI, Ilijovski saw the place and offered to buy it if Yardley would manage it.
Instead, they became partners and closed on the building in November 2022.
When the restaurant reopened six months later, Boyne City breathed a collective sigh of relief.
BRI aficionados have remarked that the place “looks the same, but feels different.” Or perhaps it looks a little different and feels the same.
The point is that no one wanted to change the place into something it wasn’t. Rather, patrons wanted to see new owners make updates where needed, be subtle about it, and keep the same vibe for which the BRI has always been known: a comfortable, friendly place with reliable food and drink.
“The BRI is the last local bar in town,” says Yardley, “and I didn’t want it to stop being a local bar.”
Inside, the room is a straight shot from the front door to the glass sliders overlooking the river, with a long bar on the left and seating on the right. The bar has been refurbished and modernized, and a banquette bench runs the length of the opposite side, freeing up some space in the center. The retro knotty pine walls remain.
“People like the changes, and [are] happy to see us back open,” Yardley tells us.
Significantly, seating capacity has actually been reduced from 117 to 80 to ensure that a quality product always comes out of the compact kitchen. “It was very scary to lose that many chairs,” Yardley says, “but I wanted to be able to keep the food quality high.”
Just as Yardley has been intentional about the interior, so too has he been
thoughtful about creating a menu that everyone can enjoy.
“I wanted to keep the traditional [menu],” Yardley explains, while he is also including a number of signature dishes from his tenure at other locations. BRI standards include the All-You-Can-Eat Fish and Chips and the half-pound BRI Burger, plus a roster of sandwiches, soups, salads, and sides.
Items from Yardley’s other kitchens include the Bricklayer Sandwich, a twohanded pile of ham, salami, and Italian sausage smothered with cheese; and Lemon Chicken, gently sautéed in lemon butter. And because this is a bar with a Cordon Bleu pedigree, beyond the bar fare, one can also expect a Medjool date appetizer, a charcuterie board, and fine, hand-cut New York strips.
The shiny red pizza oven, the one big addition to the original BRI footprint, serves up fresh pies based on a locally famous sauce and crust recipe.
A brightly colored menu board out in front of the restaurant proclaims daily specials—everything from Cajun Sockeye Salmon to a Sausage and Kraut sandwich— and can’t-miss deals, which could be a $5 mimosa, free dessert, or “wear an ice fisherman’s hat” from 2-5pm to get half of your meal.
Expect the full complement of beers and ales, from near and far, both smallbatch and industry standards, plus quality wines by the glass and the bottle, from national and international vineyards, and hand-crafted cocktails both traditional and contemporary.
Find the Boyne River Inn at 229 Water St. in Boyne City. (231)222-4053.
The BRI building dates back to 1893, but its timeline is not without some historical confusion. It has been the ongoing work of local historians Ed May and Patrick McCleary, and the late Bob Morgridge, to reconstruct the long story of 229 Water St.
After the original farmstead, the building that houses today’s BRI was built in 1893. Not much is known about it prior to 1911, but one record shows it as a bar and saloon; after that it was occupied by cobbler Joe Kozeny, but other material shows that it was a tavern at the same time. (Did Kozeny have a side gig?) In the 1930s, the site was called the Riverside Tavern, and by the mid-1940s, it was operating as The Spot under the ownership of Virgil and Clara DeLaney, followed by Harvey and Pat McLaughlin. Harry Robison bought The Spot in 1962 and changed the name to the Boyne River Inn.
It was under the ownership of Mac and Maryanne McNichols that the bar took on a new persona. The BRI hit its stride in the 1970s and 1980s when skiers would leave the nearby slopes of Boyne Mountain and head into town to party. The snowy streets were packed with cars, and the bar required bouncers to keep track of the occupancy limit. History was made at the BRI in those days—personal history, that is—and there are plenty of skiers who still tell the stories. Even Playboy took notice, calling the BRI the No. 1 après ski scene in the Midwest in an article about Boyne Mountain.
In the following decades the BRI settled down, from the 1980s and beyond, under the management of Bob and Kathleen Ruhs, it became known as a dependable hometown watering hole. After changing hands a few times in the last two decades, the BRI is now back and ready to make more memories.
What’s next for the five nonprofits on the site of the future Freshwater Research & Innovation Center
By Art BukowskiChange is coming to a small but busy corner of Elmwood Township that will soon house the Traverse City Freshwater Research & Innovation Center.
The project—a collaboration between Discovery Center & Pier, 20Fathoms, Traverse Connect, Northwestern Michigan College, and Michigan Technological University— aims to build a world-class facility that will help establish the Grand Traverse Region as “the hub for education, research, development, and commercialization of freshwater and marine technologies and their applications affecting the Great Lakes and similar freshwater systems.”
The $27 million first phase of the project, expected to break ground in late 2025, includes a 35,000-square-foot building with research, lab, classroom, and business incubation space. This facility will augment the Discovery Pier directly across M-22, which also is undergoing a transformation from a blighted former coal dock into a new community space.
And while there’s plenty of excitement around the new project, it will disrupt the
operations of several nonprofits that have long occupied the site, including some that will have to move to make way for the new facility. Northern Express checked in with those organizations to find out what’s next.
The Children’s Museum and Maritime Heritage Alliance (MHA) are feeling the largest impact, as both groups have almost all of their operations at the current site and will no longer have space there once the innovation center breaks ground.
Children’s Museum Executive Director Tracie MacPherson says the museum has not yet found a permanent home. Barring the perfect location materializing within the next several months, an interim home is likely, MacPherson says.
“I feel like we’re going to end up going into a temporary space for a little bit so we can get our feet under us and really be strategic and thoughtful about what our permanent location looks like and who our
community partners could be,” she says. “All of those things take time and discussion.”
Along with a new home will likely come new programming, MacPherson says. The organization will take the time to reset and potentially add more components, including a science center and a flexible gallery space for traveling exhibits. MacPherson says she’d also like to engage older children up to age 13 at the new space.
Children’s Museum Board Chairman Mel Drumm previously told Northern Express sister publication The Ticker that building a new museum might be in the cards if leaders are able to find a quality site and conduct a capital campaign. Like MacPherson, he says a temporary home will be needed should that path be pursued.
The MHA has a small fleet—including the stately schooner Madeline, often spotted on the bay—along with more than 7,000 square feet of workshop space on the site used for restorations, maintenance, and more. The
group has volunteers that restore boats and teach classes, and they’ve been doing so in their current environs for the last 20 years.
While Madeline and another smaller boat will continue to have a spot on the pier, all of MHA’s land-based operations at the site will cease. MHA Executive Coordinator Heather Jankens says they still have not yet found a new home.
“Currently we have a facilities committee that’s been meeting weekly,” she says. “We’ve looked at a couple of different properties, but there’s been no good news.”
The group is trying hard to find a workable shop space relatively close to the pier where the boats will remain, but it’s a tall order. The further the distance from the pier, the more strain on volunteers who work on the boats, Jankens says. A dedicated space must be located if the group is to carry on with its mission.
“Wooden ships are very much living, breathing things. The reason we are fortunate enough to have the two we do in such amazing condition is because we are on top of our maintenance. We are on top of it all, all the time,” she says. “I am incredibly concerned about what will happen if we
don’t have a fully set up wood shop to do just reasonable maintenance.”
Like the Children’s Museum, MHA folks plan to keep pounding the pavement until something turns up.
“We’re still looking, we’re still here,” Jankens says. “We’ll find a path. It might be an 11th hour Hail Mary pass, but we’ll find it.”
Inland Seas Education Association
at what will become a “very exciting” space with development of the innovation center.
a huge impact not only on that neighborhood, but on the whole community,” he tells us. “I’m very confident that in five years, you won’t even recognize that corridor. It will be very similar to what happened on the North Boardman area.”
(Roop is referring to a once-blighted Traverse City area brought back to life by TACS activities, a wonderful and busy library, the completed Boardman Lake Loop Trail, new businesses, and more.)
Inland Seas has its main offices and much of its programming in Suttons Bay. It docks the schooner Alliance at the Discovery Pier and also conducts some programming from the pier. They use limited space across the street for maintenance and storage.
“Our ship maintenance facility is currently located there,” says Executive Director Fred Sitkins. “We’ve got a few things in the works. I’m feeling confident that we’re going to be able to relocate those functions relatively easily.”
As with the MHA’s ships, the plan is for Alliance to remain at the Discovery Pier. Sitkins is glad to continue to have a presence
“What’s being planned there is in really nice alignment with our work. We were founded under the idea that we could play an important role in inspiring students to consider or pursue careers in the STEM arena,” he says. “We’ve always aspired to have a place to be able to direct our students’ attention to what Great Lakes scientists are doing and have them check out these amazing careers that are available.”
Traverse Area Community Sailing
“If you go to a university setting and see a research facility, more often than not there’s no public interface. You don’t know what’s going on behind those doors and windows,” he says. “When this new center is built, we’re going to be a conduit between the community and the research that’s happening here.”
TACS, which primarily offers sailing lessons, has most of its operations on the north end of Boardman Lake. As of now, it also has some storage space at the Elmwood Township location, though TACS should be able to replace the storage space, Board President Tom Roop says.
Like Sitkins, Roop is eager to see the innovation center developed, which he believes will be a boon to the entire region.
“What they’re doing there is going to have
As one of the lead partners in the new innovation center, few could be more excited than the folks at the Discovery Center & Pier.
CEO Matt McDonough is hard at work fundraising for the project, which received $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. He says about $9 million still must be raised
McDonough is particularly enthusiastic about engaging the public in the innovation center, which will be built with public access in mind.
What will that look like? “Imagine 3,000 square feet of public interface space for you to look at marine technology on display or interact with hands-on exhibits, where people can come in and learn about micro sensors to detect PFAS, or see a filter for microplastics and find out why that’s important,” McDonough continued. “Or lakebed mapping. Or realtime weather buoy data with a high-tech buoy on display and computer screens showing real-time data coming in.”
McDonough hopes this hands-on engagement will spur urgency and action on issues related to the Great Lakes.
“At the end of the day, you want the Great Lakes resources to be as healthy as they can be. So that starts with you and me, and with people caring,” McDonough said. “And in order for somebody to care about something, they have to feel a connection to it.”
By Hanna Lee-Kleb
In the quaint downtown of Elk Rapids sits Golden Hill Farms, a shop where the artistry of floristry meets the rustic charm of a family-owned farm. Founded by Amy Hendrickson (also known as Amy Kate) alongside her daughters Abbey and Amanda, this endeavor stands as a testament to their shared passions for flowers, entrepreneurship, and family.
More than just business partners, the Hendrickson women cherish getting to work alongside each other every day. “We are an incredibly tight-knight family, and working together is fun,” Abbey says. “Our 84-yearold nana/mom still helps in the store and manages to keep up with us all!”
As Abbey explains, “We all kind of have our different strengths and weaknesses. Mom manages the bulk of our weddings and events. I run the store with Amanda, who heads up our social media and marketing.”
This interplay of talents and personalities forms the cornerstone of their collaborative spirit. “There are nights where we will all be up at 2am just texting each other our next big idea,” says Amanda.
From Florist to Farmer
The early seeds of the business started with Amy, whose journey into the world of floristry has its roots in her childhood,
spent amidst the bountiful gardens of her grandmother’s farm.
“It all began with my dad’s mom, Grandma B, an avid organic gardener,” Amy says. “She would let me cut flowers whenever I wanted. She grew all kinds of fruits and vines, herbs and flowers, which made it exciting. Four of our families had bed and breakfasts located in the village, and Grandma would let me choose whatever containers she had in her hutch to use for the bouquets being placed in the rooms.”
After growing up and moving away, in the mid-1980s, Amy’s longing for home prompted her return from Florida, where she worked in a flower shop. Before resettling in Michigan, she enrolled in a floral school in Chicago, setting the stage for the rest of her career.
Amy’s first venture, Thru the Grapevine, started in her garage in Suttons Bay before expanding to a store in Midland and eventually finding its home in Elk Rapids. Abbey and Amanda’s childhood home was right next to the shop.
“We were always running into the store, playing with flower scraps and anything that was on the shop floor,” Abbey recalls. “We would sell our makeshift bouquets, painted rocks, and homemade crafts on the shop porch, so I guess we were always trying to be entrepreneurial like our mom.”
Making Time for Flowers and Family
Abbey’s own move to Elk Rapids was
sparked by her family’s desire to live near water yet be on a farm. “When my husband and I found this property with a bunch of barns and land for flower beds, we knew it was perfect for establishing the farm,” she says.
the elements.
“We start our flowers from seed, which allows us to customize flowers for our special events, market bouquets, and dried everlastings.” Abbey explains. “In the offseason, we source flowers from sustainable farms to accommodate our everyday floral requests.”
Presently, the whole family resides within a seven-mile radius of each other.
“We have dinner together about four times per week, and if there’s any reason to gather and celebrate something we’ll find it,” Amy jokes. “Tonight we have a birthday ‘pawty’ for one of our dogs. Between our four family farms, we have seven Golden Retrievers. That’s where the shop’s name comes from.”
Perhaps those happy-go-lucky Golden Retriever vibes have also spilled over into the vibe of the downtown store. The Hendricksons tell us that since opening in 2021, the shop has been embraced wholeheartedly by the local community. “People love having another retailer downtown, especially one that’s open yearround,” Amy says.
That appreciation goes both ways. “We love getting to know our customers on a personal level,” Amanda explains. “It’s not uncommon, especially in the winter, for people to come in with their morning coffee just to enjoy the flowers and the warmth the shop exud es. It feels like spring in here right now!”
Beyond fresh-cut stems, Golden Hill Farms offers a little something for everyone. The inventory includes dried and silk flowers for custom orders alongside gifts, homegoods, clothing, and other eclectic finds. Abbey and Amanda pride themselves on creating a warm, welcoming space.
“We carry things we’d have in our own
homes and cater to different styles and generations,” says Amanda, highlighting the shop’s commitment to meeting the unique needs of its large summer season clientele.
As the Hendrickson family looks ahead to 2024 and beyond, they remain steadfast in their commitment to growth, innovation, and community engagement.
“We’re constantly evolving … we have a huge dream board and a lot of goals,” Abbey says, noting plans to expand their offerings and enhance their online presence with a new website. As northern Michigan transitions into spring and flowers bloom anew, the family is also gearing up for flower season on the farm, events and weddings, and working to share their offerings beyond Elk Rapids.
Find Golden Hill Farms at 131 River Street in Elk Rapids. (231) 264-6938; amykatedesigns.com
ENCORE 201, TC
3/23 -- Shuvlhed, 7:30-10:30; DJ Ricky T, 10:30-2
3/29 & 4/5 -- DJ Ricky T, 9
3/30 -- Tower of Bauer, 7:3010:30; DJ Ricky T, 10:30-2
4/6 -- The Jon Archambault Band, 7:30-10:30; DJ Ricky T, 10:30-2
IDENTITY BREWING CO., TC
DINING ROOM, 6-9:
3/29 -- Jesse Jefferson
4/5 -- Chris Sterr
KILKENNY'S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, TC
3/22-23 -- The J Hawkins Band, 9:30
Mon -- Team Trivia, 7-9
Tue -- The Will Harris Trio, 8
Wed -- The Pocket, 8
Thu -- DJ Leo, 9:30
3/29-30 -- Somebody's Sister & the Goodfellas!, 9:30
4/5-6 -- Protea, 9:30
KINGSLEY LOCAL BREWING
3/26 -- Open Mic, 6-8
3/28 -- Trivia, 7-9
LEFT FOOT CHARLEY, TC BARREL ROOM:
3/25 & 4/1 -- Open Mic w/ Rob Coonrod, 6-9
4/5 -- Expressions in Music & Words, 7:30-9
TASTING ROOM, 5-7:
3/29 -- Chris Smith
4/5 -- Swingbone North
LIL BO, TC
Tues. – Trivia, 8-10
Sun. – Karaoke, 8
MAMMOTH DISTILLING, TC
3/23 -- Chris Smith, 8-11
3/24 -- DJ Trivia, 6-8
3/29 -- Clint Weaner, 7:30-10:30
3/30 -- Matt Mansfield, 7:3010:30
MARI VINEYARDS, TC
4-6:
BIER'S INWOOD BREWERY, CHARLEVOIX
4/4 -- Open Mic Night w/ Host John Eaton: Sign-up at 6:15; Music at 7
BOYNE CITY TAP ROOM
3/28 & 4/4 -- Adam & The Cabana Boys, 7-9
CAFE SANTE, BOYNE CITY
3/23 -- Sean Bielby, 7-10
3/25 – The Shifties, 6-9
3/29 – Chris Calleja, 7-10
3/30 – Michelle Chenard, 7-10
3/29 -- Ron Getz
4/5 -- Blake Elliott
MIDDLECOAST BREWING CO., TC
3/29 -- Loren & Shelby, 6-9
3/30 -- ZUZ, 8-11
4/5 -- Rolling Dirty Trio, 6-9
NORTH BAR, TC: 7-10:
3/27 & 4/3 – Jesse Jefferson
3/28 & 4/4 – Drew Hale
3/29 – David Márton
4/5 – Brett Mitchell
4/6 – Nick Vasquez
OLD MISSION DISTILLING, TC
SEVEN HILLS:
3/23 -- Comedy Night w/ Steve Iott & Host & Opener Marti Johnson, 7:30
3/29 – DJ Ras Marco D, 6
4/5 – John Paul, 6
4/6 – Jimmy Olson, 6
SORELLINA'S, TC
SLATE RESTAURANT:
Thurs. -- Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 5-8
Fri. & Sat. – Tom Kaufmann on Piano, 6-9
THE ALLUVION, TC
3/23 -- Peter Madcat Ruth's C.A.R.ma. Quartet, 7:30-9:30
3/25 -- Big Fun - Funky Fun
Mondays, 6-8:30
3/28 & 4/4 -- The Jeff Haas Trio feat. Laurie Sears & Lisa Flahive, 6-8:30
3/29 -- Levitator wsg Tai Drury + Live Visuals by Super Nuclear, 7:30-9:30
3/30 -- The Go Rounds & The Antivillains, 7:30-10:30
4/1 -- Funky Uncle - Funky Fun
Mondays, 6-8:30
4/5 -- Balance wsg Gerald Cleaver, 7:30-9:30
4/6 -- John Jorgenson J2B2 Bluegrass Band & Hiroya Tsukamoto, 7:30-10
THE HAYLOFT INN, TC
Thu -- Trent Breithaupt's Open Mic, 6
THE LITTLE FLEET, TC
3/23 -- DJ Franck, 8-11
3/27 & 4/3 -- DJ Dusty Staircase - Ultra Lounge Vinyl, 3-11
3/30 -- Big Finale: Tiki Tiki Luau Party w/ DJ Dusty Staircase, 8-11
4/6 -- Themed DJ Nights, 8-11
THE PARLOR, TC 8-11:
3/23 -- Rebekah Jon
3/26 & 4/2 -- Jesse Jefferson
3/27 & 4/3 -- Wink Solo
3/28 -- Luke Woltanski & John Piatek
3/29 -- Brett Mitchell
3/30 -- Rolling Dirty
4/4 -- Jimmy Olson
4/5 -- Miriam Pico & Ryan Younce
4/6 -- Rhett & John
THE PUB, TC
3/23 -- Rolling Dirty, 8-11
3/24, 3/31 & 4/7 -- Rob Coonrod, 6-9
3/27 & 4/3 -- Tyler Roy, 7-10
3/29 -- Soul Patch, 8-11
3/30 -- Rhett & John, 8-11
4/5 -- Tai Drury, 8-11
4/6 -- Empire Highway, 8-11
THE WORKSHOP BREWING
CO., TC
3/23 -- Tai Drury, 8-10
3/24 & 4/7 -- TiltThink Comedy Mixtape, 7-9
3/26 & 4/2 -- Open Mic Night, 7-9
3/27 & 4/3 -- Jazz Jam, 6
3/28 -- Trivia Night, 7-8
3/29 -- Chris Michels, 8-10
3/30 -- Aaron Dye, 8-10
3/31 -- Comedy Open Mic, 7-9
4/5 -- The Fridays, 8-10
4/6 -- Cold Leather Seats, 8-10
UNION STREET STATION, TC
4/7 -- Chirp, 9
4/1 – The Shifties, 6-9
ETHANOLOGY, ELK RAPIDS
7-10:
3/23 -- John Piatek Duo
3/30 -- Old Mission Fiddle Vine
4/6 -- Ron Getz Trio
4/7 -- Crate Dig Sunday w/ DJ Franck
JAX NORTHSIDE, CHARLEVOIX
3/27 & 4/3 -- Trivia Night, 7-9
MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BELLAIRE
3/23 & 3/30 -- Steve Dawson, 7:30-10:30
PROVISIONS WINE LOUNGE, BOYNE CITY
3/23 -- Nelson Olstrom, 6-8
TORCH LAKE CAFÉ, CENTRAL LAKE
Thu -- Open Mic & Nick Vasquez, 7
Fri - Sat -- Leanna Collins & Ivan Greilick, 7:30
Sun -- Trivia, 5:30; Dominic Fortuna, 6:30
BEL LAGO VINEYARD, WINERY & CIDERY, CEDAR
3/30 -- John Piatek, 3-5
BOATHOUSE VINEYARDS, LAKE LEELANAU
TASTING ROOM:
3/29 -- Chris Skellenger, 5:30-8
DICK'S POUR HOUSE, LAKE LEELANAU
Sat. -- Karaoke, 10-1
FIVE SHORES BREWING, BEULAH
6-9:
3/28 & 4/4 -- Trivia Night
3/29 & 4/5 -- Open Mic
FRENCH VALLEY VINEYARD, CEDAR
4-7:
3/28 -- Chris Skellenger
4/4 -- Billy & The Kid
IRON FISH DISTILLERY, THOMPSONVILLE
3/29 -- John Piatek Duo, 5
LAKE ANN BREWING CO.
3/23 -- Luke Woltanski Duo, 6:30-9:30
3/28 & 4/4 -- Trivia Night, 7-9
3/29 -- Barefoot, 6:30-9:30
3/30 -- The Bourdains, 6:30-9:30
4/6 -- Dave Viswat Tribute, noon-5
NORTHERN LATITUDES DISTILLERY, LAKE LEELANAU
3/23 -- Dominic Fortuna, 4:45-6:45
ST. AMBROSE CELLARS, BEULAH
3/23 -- Blair Miller, 5-8
3/28 & 4/4 -- Open Mic Thursdays, 6-8:30
3/29 -- Blake Elliott, 5-8
3/30 -- Barefoot, 5-8
4/6 -- Good Things Coming FunDre-Ser: Benefit for The Winkelmann Family; Music by Barefoot (at 5pm), noon-9
4/7 -- Kid's Open Mic Hosted by Chris Winkelmann, 3-5:30
SHADY LANE CELLARS, SUTTONS BAY
4/5 -- Friday Night LIVE w/ Luke Woltanski, 5-8
BEARDS BREWERY, PETOSKEY ROOT CELLAR:
4/6 -- John & Madeline Piatek, 6
BOYNE VALLEY VINEYARDS, PETOSKEY
2-6:
3/23 -- Chase & Allie
3/30 -- Michelle Chenard
4/6 -- Two Track Mind
CITY PARK GRILL, PETOSKEY
Tue -- Trivia Night, 7-9
3/29 & 4/5 -- Annex Karaoke, 9:30
MAMMOTH DISTILLING, BAY HARBOR
3/28 -- Thursday Trivia, 7-9
NOGGIN ROOM PUB, PETOSKEY
3/23 -- Sydni K, 7-10
3/27 & 4/3 -- PubStumper's Trivia, 6:30
3/29 -- Chris Koury, 7-10
3/30 -- Delilah DeWylde, 7-10
4/5 -- Adam Hoppe, 7-10 4/6 -- Donald Benjamin, 7-10
ODAWA CASINO RESORT, PETOSKEY
VICTORIES, 9: 3/29 -- The Blitz
4/5 -- Scarkazm
POND HILL FARM, HARBOR SPRINGS
5-8:
3/23 -- Jeff & Rob Duo
3/30 -- Pete Kehoe
4/6 -- Crosscut Kings
THE BEAU, CHEBOYGAN
3/23, 3/30 & 4/6 -- Karaoke, 8
3/28 & 4/4 -- Musicians Playground ‘Open Mic,’ 7-10
3/29 -- M to the B, 8-11
NORTHERN NATURAL CIDER
HOUSE & WINERY, KALEVA
3/23 -- Billy & The Kid, 5 4/7 -- J & O Junction, 1
THE GREENHOUSE - WILLOW/ PRIMOS, CADILLAC
3/23 -- Brett Mitchell, 7
3/27 & 4/3 -- Trivia Night & Music Bingo w/ Shawny-D, 6-10
3/28 & 4/4 -- Karaoke Night w/
DJ Shawny-D, 7-10
4/6 -- North 44 Band, 7-10
Otsego, Crawford & Central
ALPINE TAVERN & EATERY, GAYLORD
6: 3/23 -- Keith Menzies
3/29 -- Lou Thumser
3/30 & 4/5 -- Nelson Olstrom
4/6 -- Todd Aldrich
RAY'S BBQ & BLUES, GRAYLING 3/24 -- Blair Miller, 4
We can’t think of a better way to spend spring break than with a great book. To go with our Spring Break Issue, Northern Express asked local booksellers to share their favorite set-in-Michigan (or written-by-Michiganders) titles to mystify readers of every age. Get your tea and slippers ready, folks—it’s about to get frightfully cozy!
Young Adults
Adults
Poltergeists of Petoskey (Michigan Chillers #3) by Johnathan Rand
They’re heerrree! Alex and Adrian couldn’t be more excited to explore their new Petoskey home—that is, until floating appliances and ghostly visions declare that they aren’t welcome. Turns out, they have a bad case of poltergeists, and there’s one angry spirit who won’t go quietly. The third installment in Johnathan Rand’s iconic Michigan Chillers series, this elementary-level read is perfect for a few late-night thrills!
Once on This Island by Gloria Whelan
It’s the summer of 1812 when British forces overtake Mackinac Island. For Mary O’Shea, though, the real battle is keeping her homestead safe while her father fights. But in a rugged frontier rife with conflict, danger lurks around every corner. From award-winning author Gloria Whelan, Once on this Island reimagines a piece of Michigan history in dazzling fiction. Jump into a classic with this timeless pick!
Young Readers
Tallulah: Mermaid of the Great Lakes by Denise Brennan-Nelson, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung
Tallulah doesn’t look like all the other mermaids in the ocean, and even though she loves her friends there, she doesn’t feel like she belongs. To find her true identity, she goes exploring in the Great Lakes, where she discovers a Petoskey stone that makes her shine in her own way. For early elementary-aged readers, it doesn’t get any sweeter than this!
The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs
After losing his parents in a car accident, 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt is sent to live with his mysterious and magical Uncle Jonathan. Even more mysterious, though, is the constant ticking sound in the house. Turns out, its previous owners have hidden a clock that could destroy mankind. Bursting with mystery and suspense, this novel is also the first installment of a twelve-book series (which earns it a gold star from Bay Books!).
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
Bestselling author Angeline Boulley is upping the stakes in her newest novel! In it, we return to Sugar Island, where Perry Firekeeper-Birch is feeling lost. All she needs is a little direction, and she finds it in a complex heist to steal back the remains and sacred belongings of 13 Anishinaabe women and return them to their rightful communities.
Postcards from Summer by Cynthia Platt
Seventeen-year-old Lexi has spent her life longing for the mother she lost as a child. When she’s given a chest of her mother’s belongings, she discovers pamphlets from Mackinac Island and a postcard detailing a whirlwind romance. Could this northern Michigan paradise hold the key to all of Lexi’s questions? Part The Notebook, part Love & Gelato, this one’s reserved for our spring TBR!
Murder at Cherokee Point by Peter Marabell
The first installment of Peter Marabell’s Alex Russo tetralogy, Murder at Cherokee Point, is a full-on “mob showdown on Mackinac Island.” A local aristocrat has just met a dubious end, and it’s up to Petoskey lawyer Alex Russo to investigate. Old-money dealings, politics, and life-and-death danger are all in a day’s work in this whodunit.
August Snow by Stephen Mack
JonesDetroiter August Snow is everything a cop should be: he’s strong, streetsmart…and was unceremoniously dropped from the force by corrupt higher-ups. But when a wealthy friend turns up dead, the investigation lands him in the grips of Detroit’s most notorious felons. This actionpacked read is a McLean and Eakin favorite.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never been able to find balance between her indigenous heritage with her mother’s white family. As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, she’s thrust into an FBI investigation after witnessing a drug-fueled murder. But how far is she willing to go to expose the truth and protect her community? Packed with Ojibwe knowledge and politics, Boulley’s debut also deftly addresses weightier issues, like drugs and racism.
The Less Than Spectacular Times of Henry Milch by Marshall Thornton
When we meet Henry Milch, he’s a mess. After a night of L.A. mayhem goes wrong, he’s packed off to Michigan and his conservative grandma, just in time to discover a corpse on his first day at a conservancy job. The upside? There’s a hefty reward for information leading to the man’s killer, and Henry will do just about anything to get back to his “real” life in Hollywood. Murder most foul at its finest? Check!
The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne
Helena Pelletier has a dark secret: her father’s a criminal kidnapper who abducted her mother and raised her in captivity. Fast forward more than 20 years, and he’s escaped from prison, killed two guards, and vanished into the Michigan forest—and only Helena knows how to find him. Bay Books couldn’t get enough of this novel’s detailed and emotionallywrought storyline. (And yes, it is better than the movie!)
Color Tour by Aaron Stander
Stander really hits his stride in the second installment of his Sheriff Ray Elkins series. In it, Elkins is called upon to investigate a young teacher’s murder, which turns into a cat-and-mouse game wherein Elkins himself becomes the hunted. This novel is filled with suspenseful twists and turns, and—bonus!—it’s set during autumn in Michigan, which only makes solving the puzzle of Stander’s familiar settings all the more fun.
Young Readers
Young Adults
Adults
Enemies in the Orchard by Dana VanderLugt
The year is 1944, and with her brother off fighting in World War II, Claire’s father has just hired a team of German POWs to help with the apple harvest. Claire hates the idea—until she forges a friendship with one gentle soldier. Could these would-be enemies find common ground? Brilliant Books calls this poignant novel-in-verse a “fascinating look at wartime experiences and its many complexities.”
What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie
When Ginny Anderson’s father takes a summer job in Saugatuck, the family is forced to bunk in a crumbling mansion known as Woodmoor Manor. Even worse, the nearby forest is supposedly home to unspeakable creatures; and as Ginny soon discovers, there’s always someone—or something—watching. From the award-winning author of Scritch Scratch comes the perfect middle-grade mystery. Prepare for goosebumps!
The Truth Lies Here by Lindsey Klingele
Set in the Upper Peninsula, this Michigan Notable Book of the Year (2019) follows aspiring journalist Penny as she prepares to spend the summer with her dad and—hopefully—drum up some essay inspiration. An increasing number of body bags and her own father’s disappearance, though, tell Penny there’s a larger, stranger, story afoot in this declining town. Funny and deliciously eerie, this paranormal mystery is recommended for older teens.
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
There’s a second northern Michigan vote for Boulley’s sophomore novel, dear readers! Once again, she’s expertly woven some heavier topics into the story; including the importance of NAGPRA (the North American Graves and Repatriation Act), reclaiming history, and perseverance—all of which play into this page-turning pick.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings
When Black college student Lena Johnson learns of her family’s crippling debt, she hangs up her dreams to help foot the bill. On paper, her new position in a secret program sounds like valuable research, but as Lena quickly discovers, the consequences are permanent (and deadly!). For fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, this timely thriller is a no-brainer!
Meet Isabel Puddles: A Mitten State Mystery by M.V. Byrne
Isabel Puddles is a creature of habit. A Jane-of-all-trades on the Great Lakes coast, she stays busy with several part-time jobs, including the occasional stint preparing bodies at the funeral parlor. But when she finds an inch-long nail embedded in one corpse’s skull, Isabel immediately suspects foul play. Brilliant Books’ staff describes this quirky read as a “Golden Age-style mystery that’s lively and funny.”
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Michigan author Heather Shumaker’s middle-grade novel is packed with adventure—and maybe a heart-pounding puzzle or two! Griffin siblings Will, Meg, and Ariel can’t wait to visit their aunt in England. But they didn’t expect the town to have ghosts or that it would be up to them to stop them! Horizon staff calls it a charming read, perfect for fans of The Penderwicks series.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The year is 1936, and it’s not easy being a kid in Flint. Things are looking up for 10-year-old Bud, though: he’s got his own suitcase, his own set of rules, and a flier that’s about to solve the mystery of his missing father once and for all. Christopher Paul Curtis is a literary icon, and this Newberry Prize-winning novel will have middle-grade readers hooked from the start.
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
Holmes and Waston are at it again—at least, their great-grandchildren are. The brainchild of an Interlochen Arts Academy grad and bestselling author, this page-turner follows the trajectory of two young gumshoes destined to meet. The air is tense when readers first find Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes, but when a shared acquaintance turns up dead, they join forces to solve a sinister crime!
Deus X by Stephen Mack Jones
If you like action-packed mystery, Horizon Books’ COO, Juan Pineda, agrees that August Snow won’t let you down. Deus X is the fourth in line of Jones’ award-winning series. This time, everyone’s favorite ex-cop is putting his life on the line for a priest with modern-day Templars hot on his trail—but what’s he hiding, and who’s after it?
In the eleventh installment of Laurie Cass’s Bookmobile Cat Mystery series, mobile librarian Minnie Hamilton and her feline friend team up with police to investigate the murder of a candy shop owner. On the outside, the man was as sweet as can be, but the truth is far from savory. Set in charming Chilson, Michigan, this cozy read begs for an afternoon on the couch!
saturday
RETRO DAY: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville. Wear your neon, ringer tees, huge jeans & vintage sweaters. DJ CDX will be playing your retro favorites on the Lodge Patio from noon-4pm, & there will be an on-slope scavenger hunt. Find the disco balls hidden around the mountain & bring one back to the Park at Water’s Edge for a prize. crystalmountain.com/event/retro-weekend
THE FROSTBITE TRAIL: Noon-6pm at 12 participating locations in Charlevoix & Antrim counties. This is a small bite & drink tasting experience. $12 per person at each location. facebook.com/frostbitetrail
“IS MURDER TAX DEDUCTIBLE?”: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Presented by OTP’s Aged to Perfection senior reader’s theatre. In the offices of Dett and Merring, Accountants, murder is afoot. One partner plays out the ruse along with the office secretary, until Detective Bartholomew sees through the obfuscation. Free will donation. oldtownplayhouse.com/ aged-to-perfection/performances/is-murdertax-deductible.html
COMEDY NIGHT: 7:30pm & 9:30pm, Old Mission Distilling, Seven Hills, TC. Host & Opener is TC’s Funny Lady, Marti Johnson, who won red hot best comedian in 2017 & 2018 for Traverse Magazine. Headliner is Steve Iott, who has headlined comedy clubs across the country for 25 years. He has appeared on A&E, Comedy Central, & was the opening act for Bill Maher, Chicago, & Steven Wright. $25. eventbrite.com/o/old-mission-distilling-75660390143
sunday
“IS MURDER TAX DEDUCTIBLE?”: (See Sat., March 23, except today’s time is 2pm.)
monday
RANGER-LED HIKE: 10am, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Meet rangers at the visitor center in Empire (M-72, 9922 W Front St) for an introduction, & then car caravan a short distance to begin the hike. This is a beaver hike & is 1.5-2 miles. You only need a park entrance pass or annual pass to participate. nps.gov/ slbe/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.
TADL TEEN CREATIVITY CORNER (EXTENDED EDITION): 11am, Traverse Area District Library, Teen Dept., TC. Bring your art or craft project & supplies & spend some time with other creative people. Snacks (& company) will be provided. Free. tadl.org/events
tuesday
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DROP-IN ASSISTANCE & Q&A: 10am-4pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Autumn VanderMolen, the region’s community liaison from the State of Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency, will be available to answer questions. Bring your Michigan Driver’s License or State of Michigan identification card, along with a Social Security card or birth certificate or U.S. passport. Free. tadl.org/event/unemploymentinsurance-drop-assistance-and-qa-13958
RANGER-LED HIKE: 10am, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Meet rangers at the visitor center in Empire (M-72, 9922 W Front St) for an introduction, & then car cara-
van a short distance to begin the hike. This is a senses hike in Glen Haven & is .5-1 mile. You only need a park entrance pass or annual pass to participate. nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/ calendar.htm.
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30am, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library, lower-level Community Meeting Room. Preschoolers of all ages are invited to join for stories, songs & active fun. Free. sbbdl.org
RIVER SACRED: UNCOVERING THE CRYSTAL RIVER: 11am, Leland Township Public Library, Munnecke Room, Leland. Micheal Brennan will share his two year journey of photographing, observing, & uncovering the history & beauty of the Crystal River, located in Glen Arbor Township. leelanauhistory.org/events
OPEN STUDIO, BOYNE CITY: Noon-4pm, Boyne Arts Center, Boyne City. Bring your latest project - paints, fiber arts, written arts, sculpting, jewelry, cards, drawing, & other portable mediums, & create & share. Held on Tuesdays. Free. boynearts.org
TECH TUESDAY: GOOGLE DRIVE: 3pm, Leelanau Township Library, Lower-level Community Room, Northport. Join for a presentation on how to use Google Drive. Bring your mobile device or laptop with login info & your questions. Free. leelanautownshiplibrary.org
wednesday
SPRING BREAK BOREDOM?: 1pm, Peninsula Community Library, TC. Bring the kids to a showing of the movie “Wall-E.” Snacks & take-home treat bags included. 231-223-7700. Free.
SUGAR ALTERNATIVE BAKING CLASS WITH JENNIFER & PAM: 6pm, Interlochen Public Library. Learn how to modify a recipe to suit a particular dietary need, whether going completely sugar-free or only partial sugar; demos will be on hand to try to help you experiment at home. The class is limited to 20 participants ages 13 & up. Pre-register: 231-2766767. Free.
THE PROMISE: 7:30pm, New Hope Community Church, Williamsburg. An Easter musical of the life of Jesus from birth to resurrection, showcasing a cast & crew of over 200 people. The 2pm matinee on March 30 is ASL interpreted. Not recommended for small children. Free. newhope.cc/promise
thursday
TADL FAMILY BEACH PAR-
TY: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Families are invited to say “bye-bye” to those winter blues & join in Youth Services for a Beach Party. Enjoy beachthemed games, snacks, & activities. Show off your summer garb with beach themed shirts & sunglasses. Free. tadl.org/events
READER CHEF, JR. COOKING CLASS:
4pm, Interlochen Public Library. For ages 1014. Kids will learn a new recipe & be able to cook the meal from start to finish. Limited to 10 kids per class. Registration required: 231-2766767. Free.
----------------------
TWEENS/ TEENS GRAPHIC NOVEL NIGHT:
5-7pm, Bellaire Public Library. Enjoy pizza, discuss graphic novels, & try your hand at making your own graphic novel. Register. Free. bellairelibrary.org
THE PROMISE: (See Weds., March 27)
Michael
friday
TADL CARDBOARD CARS
+ DRIVE-IN MOVIE: 9:30am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. TADL Spring Break Staycation. Create a cardboard car with all of the fixings prior to the 10am Drive-In Movie. Decorate your vehicle to your child’s delight & then sit back with some popcorn & juice boxes (provided for free by TADL) to enjoy the morning movie (title TBA). Bring your own pillows or blankets. Free.
$2 FRIDAY CLASSICS: 11am, Lyric Theatre, Theater 1, Harbor Springs. Featuring “Spartacus” (1960). lyricharborsprings.org
TADL CHESS TOURNAMENT: 11am, Traverse Area District Library, TC. Tweens & teens are invited to drop in for a spring break staycation chess tournament. Free. tadl.org/events
SPRING BREAK SCREENING OF “JUMANJI” (1995): 1-3pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. Register in advance. Tickets are pay what you wish, limit of 300. $0-$15. simpletix.com/e/jumanji1995-screening-tickets-163858
UNUSUAL SPRING EXPERIENCE: 4-5:30pm, Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don & Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, TC. Explore the universally accessible Looyenga Family. GTRLC Stewardship Staff member Steve Laguerquist will highlight the impact on flora & fauna in our region due to changes in temperature & precipitation. Bring water & a snack. Register. gtrlc.org
THE PROMISE: (See Weds., March 27)
saturday
EARLY SPRING BIRD
WALK: 9am, Grass River Natural Area, Bellaire. Look & listen for the early arrival of birds. Binoculars are available to borrow or bring your own. If there is still snow, bring snowshoes or rent a pair for an additional $5 in the Grass River Center. $5/person; must pre-register. grassriver.org
EASTER FUN & GAMES: 10-11:30am, East Jordan Elementary School gymnasium. Hosted by the East Jordan Lions Club.
FRANKFORT EASTER EGG HUNT: 10am, Mineral Springs Park, Frankfort. Kids can find eggs & meet the Easter Bunny. Free. frankfortelberta.com
GOLDEN EGG HUNT: 10am-2pm, Downtown Elk Rapids. Find the golden eggs in & around downtown businesses, take a selfie with the egg, & then have your selfies counted at Northwind Blooms to win a special Easter Basket.
MICHIGAN MAPLE WEEKEND: 10am-4pm, Out of the Woods Maple Farm, Rapid City. Visit Out of the Woods Maple Farm during Michigan Maple Weekend. Take a farm tour, learn about the maple process, sample products & more. Free. facebook.com/outofthewoodsmaple
EASTER EGG HUNT FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED: 11am, Mosaic Church, 1200 Ramsdell St., TC. All children & adults with intellectual or physical disabilities & their families are welcome. facebook.com/ events/220818374456941
FAIRGROUNDS EGG SCRAMBLE: 11am, Emmet County Fairgrounds, Petoskey. Free. emmetcounty.org/event/fairgrounds-eggscramble-3
SATURDAY 25 CENTS FAMILY FAVOR-
ITES: 11am, Lyric Theatre, Theater 1, Harbor Springs. Featuring “Problem Child” (1990). lyricharborsprings.org
BOWLING DOWN MAIN STREET: Noon-2pm, intersection of Main & State streets, Harbor Springs. Freebies at various businesses. See web site. Free. harborspringschamber.com/events/details/bowling-down-main-street-2024-13764
EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA: Noon, Lake Ann Farm, Lake Ann. There will also be pony rides ($5) & a petting zoo. 231-715-6272. $5/ person; 2 & under are free.
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD KIDS: 2pm & 5pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. Performed by the Young Company’s one-week musical theatre spring break campers. $21 adults; $12 for under 18. oldtownplayhouse.com/calendar
THE PROMISE: (See Weds., March 27, except today’s time is 2pm.)
THE DISTRICT’S 3RD ANNUAL EASTER
EGG HUNT: Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District, Glen Arbor. 3-3:45pm: Crafts & face painting at the M22 Wine Patio. 4pm: Easter Egg Hunt. crystalriveroutfitters.com/event/ the-districts-third-annual-easter-egg-hunt
mar 31
sunday
MICHIGAN MAPLE WEEKEND: (See Sat., March 30)
“MARQUEETOWN”
WORLD PREMIERE BENEFIT SCREENING: 7pm, The Alluvion, TC. No one fights to preserve a multiplex, but some people will risk everything to save a marquee. See web site for more info. $10; benefits Crosshatch Center for Arts & Ecology. bit.ly/MarqueetownTheAlluvion
apr 02
tuesday COFFEE & CONVERSATION AT THE CHAMBER: 8-10am, Harbor Springs Area Chamber office, 118 E. Main St., Harbor Springs. Enjoy conversation & connections with chamber staff & other members. Free.
PEEPERS PROGRAM: AWESOME AMPHIB-
IANS: 10-11am, Boardman River Nature Center, TC. An adult-accompanied program for early learners ages 3-5 years old of all experience levels with the natural world. Enjoy stories, crafts, music, & discovery activities. Kickoff the Spring Peepers season learning about spring peepers. Explore the different sounds frogs can make & why they are so loud. Programming is 100% outdoors, so please dress for the weather. Register. $5 per child. natureiscalling. org/preschool-peepers-program
OPEN STUDIO, BOYNE CITY: (See Tues., March 26)
----------------------
GRAND TRAVERSE ICE YACHT CLUB
MEETING: Grand Traverse Yacht Club, Greilickville. For those interested in ice boating. Social hour at 6pm; meeting at 7pm. Held the first Tues. of each month. facebook.com/ groups/GTIYC
apr 03
wednesday
NOTEBOOK BINDING WORKSHOP & AUTHOR
Q&A: Noon-1:30pm, NCMC, Library, Petoskey. Using a series of homemade contraptions & a bottle of archival glue, local author & publisher Austin Rowlader will demonstrate how he hand-binds his debut novel, “Ordinary Time.” Participants will bind their very own notebooks with covers designed by NCMC Art & Design students. Limited to 40 people. Free; registration required. facebook.com/events/1601756 970639237/?ref=newsfeed
----------------------
NORTH CENTRAL CAREER FAIR: 2-4pm, NCMC, Gymnasium, Petoskey. Meet with hiring managers from 50+ northern Michigan employers. Free. ncmich.edu/community-events/ events/2024-career-fair.html
APRIL RECESS: 5-7pm, Commongrounds, TC. Traverse Ticker ’s after-work happy hour for adults. Food & drink offerings from Nobo Mkrt. Along with networking, enjoy DJ Ras Marco spinning vinyl records in The Alluvion; guided tours of Commongrounds; experiment with coffee inside Higher Grounds Learning Lab; enjoy the Botanic Art Exhibit, & more. Prizes include dinner & a show for 4 from NoBo Mrkt. & The Alluvion; 10 hours of meeting room reservations from Commonplace Community Coworking; original
artwork from an Alluvion Arts @ 414 exhibiting artist; a ticket to a Higher Grounds Learning Lab coffee class; & a 1:1 coaching session from This Osteopathic Life. Sponsored by West Shore Bank. Find on Facebook. $10.
PLACE: TRUTH & RESTORATION: The Presbyterian Church of TC, 701 Westminster Rd. Night 3: Night for Collective Action. Learn ways to follow local Indigenous leadership toward environmental restoration. Facilitated by Eva Petoskey of Mindimooyenh Healing Circle, & Liz Kirkwood, executive director of FLOW (For Love of Water). Supper by donation at 5:30pm; program at 6:30pm. Find ‘PLACE: Truth & Restoration (night 3)’ on Facebook.
apr 04
thursday
NORTE SPRING TUNE-UP: Noon-4pm, Carson Square Apartments, TC. Bring your bike for a quick safety inspection or tune-up. For questions, email: caroline@norteyouthcycling. org. Donations are greatly appreciated. norteyouthcycling.org/calendar/norte-spring-tune-up
RESEARCHING DIGITAL MICHIGAN NEWSPAPER WORKSHOP: 1pm, Glen Lake Community Library, Empire. Learn about Leelanau’s historic newspapers & about Central Michigan University’s Digital Michigan Newspaper Portal. The portal is a free website for researching Michigan’s historic newspapers. Free. leelanauhistory.org/events
GRUPO FOLKLORICO XOCHIQUETZAL: 4pm, Dennos Museum Center, NMC, TC. Comprised of volunteers from the local area, the group came together in July 2022 to bring awareness of Latino culture & music to northern Michigan. They perform various dance styles from parts of Mexico & Panama in traditional attire made in Mexico, & have been invited to perform at festivals, schools, & private events. Please register in advance. The ticket price reflects the cost of admission to the museum. 995-1055. $0 - $10. simpletix.com/e/ grupo-folklorico-xochiquetzal-tickets-153875
BREAKING THE STIGMA OF AGING: 5:308pm, City Opera House, TC. Presented by The Leelanau Wellness Collective in partnership with Dr. Tina Metropoulos, DO. A panel of experts, including Dr. Jill Balla, D.C., Ken Scott, transformational coach, & Dr. Tina Metropoulos, DO will lead insightful discussions to empower attendees to embrace aging with vitality & purpose. Enjoy the soothing sounds of singing bowls by Naomi Cole, hear a guest speaker, take part in networking, & more. $18 $20. cityoperahouse.org/node/567
POTLUCK & OFF THE WALL MOVIE NIGHT: Helena Township Community Center, Alden. Dinner, 6pm; movie, 7pm. Call 231-331-4318 for movie details & to sign up for the potluck.
“MARQUEETOWN” BENEFIT “BREW & VIEW” SCREENING: 7pm, The Workshop Brewing Co., TC. No one fights to preserve a multiplex, but some people will risk everything to save a marquee. See web site for more info. $10; benefits Arts & Culture Fund at The Workshop. bit.ly/MarqueetownWorkshopBrewing
OLD SKILLS, NEW THRILLS - TAKING ON THE RACE TO ALASKA: 7pm, Maritime Heritage Alliance, TC. The Race to Alaska is an engineless, unsupported race from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan Alaska. Find out what happens when a group of tall ship sailors join forces to tackle the challenge on a modern sport boat. Donations welcome. maritimeheritagealliance. org/events
apr 05
friday
CHILDREN & FAMILIES SING TOGETHER: A free evening of music & merriment with local musician Holly
HAVE YOU BEEN TO FUNKY FUN MONDAY OR JAZZ 4 ALL THURSDAYS YET? 6PM, HONOR COVER, FULL BAR, CHILL VIBES
No one fights to preserve a multiplex, but some people will risk everything to save a marquee...
cast & crew panel to follow with christal frost anderson
free popcorn & candy + full bar after party at nobo mrkt SUNDAY • MARCH 31 • 7 PM
MARCH 29
THE RETURN OF
APRIL 12 IN HER ALLUVION DEBUT...
Thomson. Drop-in event. 6-7pm, NCMC Library Conference Room, Petoskey. ncmich.edu
GRIEF & LOSS DROP-IN Q&A & CONVER-
SATION: 11am-1pm, East Bay Branch Library, TC. Munson Hospice Bereavement Coordinator & Certified Advanced Grief Counseling Specialist Erin Gray will be available for drop-in hours to answer questions & provide information & resources. Free. tadl.org/event/griefloss-drop-qa-and-conversation-13896
JOHN JORGENSON BLUEGRASS BAND: 7:30pm, Cheboygan Opera House. Enjoy this all-star bluegrass supergroup featuring four legendary, award-winning musicians: Grammy-winning John Jorgenson on acoustic guitar, mandolin & vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar & vocals; Mark Fain on bass; & Patrick Sauber on acoustic guitar & vocals. $25-$40; $10 students. theoperahouse.org/tickets
RADIUM GIRLS: 7:30pm, Old Town Playhouse, TC. In 1926, luminous watches were the latest rage until the girls who painted them fell ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls follows one dial painter as she fights for her day in court. Adults: $33; youth under 18: $20. oldtownplayhouse.com/ performances/mainstage/radium-girls.html
apr 06
saturday
KEEP IT SHARP!: 9am, Maritime Heritage Alliance, TC. Learn to sharpen your own hand tools with Madeline’s chief carpenter & captain, Rod Jones. You are welcome to bring your own chisels, knives, or planers, or practice on tools provided at MHA. This is a hands-on class in the heated boat shop. The
class is limited to 12 people. A $20 donation is suggested. Call 946.2647 or email: heather@ maritimeheritagealliance.org for your spot. maritimeheritagealliance.org/events
ELK RAPIDS COMMUNITY EASTER EGG
HUNT: Cherryland Middle School, Elk Rapids. Ages 0-5, 10am. Ages 6-11, 11am.
OPEN STUDIO, PETOSKEY: 10am-1pm, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Visual Arts Room, Petoskey. Drop-in art for the whole family. New projects are offered each week. Free. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/openstudio-april-6
COFFEE WITH THE AUTHORS: THE LETTER LEAGUE: 1pm, Glen Arbor Arts Center. Featuring Heather Spooner, owner of Ampersand Lettering Lab, an art & hand lettering business in TC. Spooner will talk about The Letter League, an adult pen pal project she created to encourage writing letters by hand during the COVID pandemic. Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager, leads the conversation. The Letter League also caught the attention of Los Angeles filmmaker Michelle Boyaner of Greenie Films, & a documentary about stories of connection in a disconnected time was created. Spooner will talk about hand-written letters sent by the post office, & the documentary’s April 27, TC premiere at the Dennos Museum Center. This Coffee With The Authors interview is part of the GAAC’s By Hand project, an exploration of making & creating by hand in a time of machine dominance, which will run March 29 - May 30. Free. glenaborart.org
VEGMICHIGAN - TC - MONTHLY MEETUP: 1pm, Stone Hound Brewing Co., Williamsburg. April Monthly Meetup features a selection of plant-based wraps, burgers, bowls, & snacks. Everyone is welcome. Food orders are taken at the bar, so arrive when you
want. meetup.com/traverse-city-vegmichigan-meetup/events/299697988/?utm_ medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_ savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link
“NO DEFENSE: THE U.S. MILITARY’S WAR ON WATER”: 6-8pm, Dennos Museum Center, Milliken Auditorium, NMC, TC. A documentary about the former Wurtsmith Air Force base in Oscoda, MI, the first military site in the country where PFAS contamination was identified. Free. mobilize.us/michiganlcv/event/606474 ----------------------
GOOD ON PAPER IMPROV: 7pm, Inn at Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay. This six-person group has been turning audience suggestions into completely improvised comedy scenes for over ten years. Every show is brand new. $20-$36. mynorthtickets.com/events/good-on-papercomedy-improv-at-black-star-farms-4-6-2024 ----------------------
FLY FISHING FILM TOUR (F3T): 7:30pm, City Opera House, TC. This is the original & largest fly fishing film event of its kind. Enjoy short films & stay for the giveaways. $25 GA; $20 students 18 or younger. cityoperahouse.org/node/561
RADIUM GIRLS: (See Fri., April 5)
apr 07
GREAT LAKES CINEMA SERIES: Great Lakes Center for the Arts, Bay Harbor. Enjoy “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” at 2pm, & “Little Shop of Horrors” at 7pm on the 45-foot cinema screen with Dolby theatrical surround sound. $5 per film. greatlakescfa.org/events ----------------------
LIFE ON GRAY’S REEF LIGHTHOUSE: 2pm, Helena Township Community Center, Alden.
Bob Holtzmann will discuss his experience of being part of the five-man Coast Guard crew assigned to an offshore lighthouse, known as Gray’s Reef, located in northern Lake Michigan. He’ll also be sharing some history of the Coast Guard. 231-331-4318. Free.
RADIUM GIRLS: (See Fri., April 5, except today’s time is 2pm.)
GREAT LAKES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S SUNDAY SERIES: REPERIO: 4pm, First Presbyterian Church, Boyne City. Featuring Nancy Stagnitta, flute; Dane Philipsen, oboe; & Ya-Ju Chuang, piano. Free.
“MARQUEETOWN” BENEFIT SCREENING: 7pm, The Vogue Theatre, Manistee. No one fights to preserve a multiplex, but some people will risk everything to save a marquee. See web site for more info. $10; benefits The Vogue Theatre of Manistee. bit.ly/MarqueetownTheVogue
NWS: AN EVENING WITH DON WINSLOW: City Opera House, TC. This New York Times bestselling author is promoting his book “City in Ruins” - his final novel & conclusion of his Danny Ryan trilogy. Doors open at 6pm with live music & a cash bar. The event begins at 7pm & includes a Q & A & author signing. $10-$54. nationalwritersseries.org/don-winslow
BELLAIRE WINTER FARMERS MARKET: Bee Well Mead & Cider; Short’s Brewing Co. Southside event space; & Terrain. Held on Fridays through the middle of May from 9am-noon.
BOYNE CITY MARKET AT THE PAVILION: Veterans Park Pavilion, Boyne City. Held every Sat. through May from 9am-12:30pm. Shop lo-
cal artists, food makers & farmers. boynecityfarmersmarket.org/series/market-at-the-pavilion-2
INDOOR FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 10am-2pm, The Village at GT Commons, The Mercato, TC. More than 35 vendors offer a variety of items from farm fresh eggs, meats & cheeses, to fruits, veggies, homemade breads & more. thevillagetc.com
“UNITED BY VERSE”: Jordan River Arts Council, East Jordan. Writers & visual artists inspire each other. This exhibit unites these collaborations. Featuring 35 pieces by 28 artists who have merged these two art forms. Runs through May 4. Gallery hours are Friday through Monday from 12:30-4:30pm. jordanriverarts.com/2024-events
BUGS & BLOOMS - LAUREN EVERETT
FINN AND MICHELLE TOCK YORK: Higher Art Gallery, TC. Featuring the work of two local artists: Lauren Everett Finn - paint & clay; & found object sculptures of Michelle Tock York. The opening reception will be held on April 5 from 6-8pm. The show runs through May 3. higherartgallery.com
JOURNEY THROUGH ABSTRACTION: Oliver Art Center, Frankfort. A group exhibition of diverse abstract art. The work of Michigan artists Kenneth Anbender, Nancy Clouse & Marat Paransky is showcased in this exhibition. Runs through April 5. Oliver Art Center is open Tues. - Sat. from 10am-4pm; Sun.: noon-4pm. Closed on Mondays. oliverartcenterfrankfort.org
BARBARA REICH EXHIBIT: Bonobo Winery,
library, TC. This exhibit of original pastel paintings runs through May 27. barbarareich.com
“TURNED & STITCHED: ARTISTRY IN WOODTURNING & QUILTING”: Runs through April 6 at Charlevoix Circle of Arts. The wood pieces featured were crafted by members of Northwestern Michigan Woodturners. The quilts on display were made by local artists. charlevoixcircle.org
“BOTANIC”: Alluvion Arts @ 414, TC. This exhibition takes a collective look at our intimate relationship to the plant kingdom. Driven by our community of collaborators & artists, this ‘living’ exhibition will grow with additional artwork, installations, plants & observations added until the exhibition closes on May 5. thealluvion.org/ arts
ANNUAL YOUTH ART EXHIBIT, TC: Crooked Tree Arts Center, TC. Celebrating the work of K-12 art students & educators from throughout the Grand Traverse region. Runs through April 5. crookedtree.org/event/ctac-traverse-city/ youth-art-exhibit-traverse-city ----------------------
CROOKED TREE ARTS CENTER, PETOS-
KEY:
- YOUTH ART SHOW, PETOSKEY (DATE CHANGE): Held in the galleries, & featuring original works of art by young artists in grades K-12. Runs through May 1. Open Tues. through Sat., 10am-5pm. crookedtree.org/event/ ctac-petoskey/date-change-youth-art-show2024-participation-details
- EMERGING ARTISTS 2024: A COLLECTION OF NCMC STUDENT WORKS: Held in Atrium Gallery, April 2 – May 11. Work in glass, metals, ceramics, painting, drawing, photography, illustration, video, & more will be on display. This exhibition is organized by NCMC faculty. Hours are Tues. - Sat., 10am-5pm.
Tomorrow is loving more of the moments we love today.
Tomorrow is on.SM
What we do today impacts tomorrow. Like how a silly moment with loved ones can create memories that last a lifetime. Or how Enbridge is investing in enough renewable energy projects to power more than one million homes. It’s part of how we’re fueling quality of life, so you can turn more moments into memories for years to come
Learn more at tomorrowison.com
crookedtree.org/event/ctac-petoskey/emerging-artists-2024-collection-ncmc-student-works
DENNOS MUSEUM CENTER, NMC, TC:
- HEMINGWAY IN COMICS: This exhibition presents a new, more complicated way to look at Hemingway: a man, an artist, & a character that has taken on a life of its own, & allows visitors to consider why Hemingway’s image, in particular, is so enduring. It’s not only for the dedicated Hemingway fan, but for all those with an appreciation for comics, pop culture, & the absurd. Runs through May 26. Hours are Tues. - Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/upcomingexhibitions/hemingway-in-comics.html?utm_ source=cision&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=DMC-winter-2024
- YOUNG AT ART: A SELECTION OF CALDECOTT ILLUSTRATIONS: This exhibition includes original illustrations from Caldecott Medal recipients & from “runnerup” Honor books, as well as other illustrations by award-winning artists. It is an exhibition of works from Wichita Falls Museum of Art’s permanent collection. It runs through April 28. Hours are Tues. through Sun., 11am-4pm. dennosmuseum.org/art/ upcoming-exhibitions/young-at-art.html?utm_ source=cision&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=DMC-winter-2024
GLEN ARBOR ARTS CENTER:
- BY HAND PROJECT: This project is a consideration of the myriad ways in which the human hand is intrinsic to creative work; & a demonstration of what human hands can make. It runs through May 30 & offers a range of programs that explore this theme through the visual, performing, architectural, & literary arts. glenarborart.org/events-page/events-all
- TREE OF LIFE -- AN EXHIBIT: TC artist Mary Fortuna explores the Tree Of Life - Connecting The World in this mixed media installation. This small show runs through April 25. The Tree Of
Life that will grow in the GAAC’s Lobby Gallery is populated with animals, birds & insects. Each one is a hand-sewn soft sculpture. Hours: Mon. through Fri., 9am-3pm; Sat., noon-4pm. glenarborart.org/events/exhibit-tree-of-life-connecting-the-world
Deadline for Dates information is Tuesday for the following week.
"One, Please"--no room for any more. by Matt Jones
ACROSS
1. Jesting sort
4. China, long ago (as seen in an airline name)
10. "Blueberries for ___" (award-winning kids' book)
13. Chicken ___ king
14. Max for tax calculation
15. Bird that's not native to Tasmania
16. Radio personality who's good at archery?
18. With "The," 1970s musical Oz remake
19. Scorched
20. Notable time period
21. Bionicles maker
22. "Return of the Jedi" princess
23. Actor who's good at pressing clothes?
26. July in Marseille
27. Pilot-licensing org.
28. Show grief
29. Cardinals' cap initials
30. ___ nous (confidentially)
33. Ceremony performed by a mohel
36. Actress/TV host who's good at economics?
39. "SNL" alum Horatio
40. Search site with an exclamation point
41. N, S, E, or W
43. Talk trash about
45. Write-___ (some nominees)
46. Number of three-letter chemical elements
47. Blues rocker who's good at hauling stuff?
52. Prefix for drama
53. "Roots" author Haley
54. "Anchorman" anchorman Burgundy
55. Colts' fathers
56. Big wheel
57. Rapper/actor who's good at holding together documents?
60. Vow words
61. Curse-inducing stare
62. Graceful shade tree
63. ___ Moines, Iowa
64. Picks up for another year
65. "The Waste Land" author's monogram
DOWN
1. Sings like a bird
2. Montreal CFLers
3. English actress Wilde of "Carrie" and "Wonder Woman 1984"
4. ___ au vin (French dish)
5. Kwik-E-Mart owner
6. Director Lars von ___
7. Le ___ (French seaport)
8. Starting lineups
9. The Beatles' "___ Blues"
10. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" setting
11. Fernando's friend
12. Largest island of the Philippines
14. It's a blast
17. ___ minute
21. Scales of the zodiac
23. 1998 Wimbledon champ Novotna
24. Food package date, informally
25. Yokels, in Australian slang
27. Andre the Giant's role in "The Princess Bride"
31. Irish actor Stephen
32. Body of morals
34. Companion that's great for apartments (and won't run off)
35. They're found in the epidermis
37. Alphabetical listing
38. Sound the horn
42. Phrase on tote bags and plastic containers
44. Try hard
47. Michelangelo masterpiece
48. Bypass a vowel
49. Auctioned autos, often
50. "Rise of the ___" (PlayStation game coming out on March 22)
51. Mom's brother
52. ___ de los Muertos
55. ___-Therese, Quebec
57. To see, in Tijuana
58. "That's disgusting"
59. Pt. of CBS
Creme de la Weird
Arthur "Jack" Schubarth, 80, of Vaughn, Montana, pleaded guilty on March 12 to two felony wildlife crimes after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks conducted a years-long investigation, Business Insider reported. Schubarth was accused of buying, selling and breeding "alternative" livestock, such as mountain sheep and mountain goats, for captive hunting operations. Between 2013 and 2021, court documents said, he conspired with others to create a large hybrid species of sheep that would garner higher prices from shooting preserves. To do so, he brought parts of Marco Polo argali sheep from Kyrgyzstan to the U.S. without declaring them. His other crimes include forging veterinary documents and shipping hybrid semen to other breeders. He faces jail time, fines and supervised release.
Recurring Theme
It's baaaackkk. In the waning days of 2020, a tall silver monolith popped up in various locations in California, Texas, Romania and elsewhere. Now, Wales Online reports, it's back. The 10-foot-tall tower, which appears to be stainless steel, turned up near Hay-on-Wye in Wales around March 10, when Richard Haynes came across it while he was out for a run. "I thought it ... might be a scientific media research thing collecting rainwater. But then I realized it was way too tall and strange for that. It was hollow and I imagine ... light enough for two people to carry it up and plant it in the ground," Haynes said. Stay tuned.
Awesome!
At the Goodwill store in Du Bois, Pennsylvania, workers found a treasure in a box of old Lego pieces, United Press International reported on March 12: a 14-karat gold Kanohi Hau mask from Lego's Bionicle collection. Originally priced at Goodwill at $14.95, the piece eventually sold for $18,100 to an anonymous collector. "We didn't know it was worth anything until people started asking if they could buy it for $1,000," said Chad Smith, vice president of e-commerce and technology for Goodwill. Lego created only 30 pieces in gold in 2001.
LAD Bible reported on March 5 about two unacquainted Brits who were headed to a holiday in Bangkok, Thailand. At the airport, Mark Garland, 58, of Wiltshire, tried to check in, but gate staff told him he already had. After some sleuthing, they realized there was another Mark Garland (62, from Bristol) on the flight -- and the look-alikes were seated next to each other. As it happens, they live only about 15 miles apart and sometimes ride the same bus. They even have a friend in common. "We were so shocked by how strange it was," said the younger Garland. "It was crazy -- I have never known anything like it," said the older. "I've made a friend for life."
After Jacob Wright, 24, and Cambree Wright, 19, exchanged wedding vows on Feb. 10, it was time for pictures, Fox News reported. So Jacob grabbed his Apple Vision Pro headset and wore it while the photos were snapped. Jacob said he saw an opportunity to have fun and create a viral moment. "I
was like, 'Oh, it'd be like such a meme. It'd be so funny if we just took some pictures with it on after the wedding." Sure enough, when they posted the pics, Cambree said she started getting "crazy" messages: "I woke up to 200-plus messages and just random girls telling me to divorce my husband." But the bride said the photos "perfectly encompass Jacob and his personality ... and what our relationship is like."
Bright Idea
Amber Denae Wright of Cape Town, South Africa, has shared a marriage tip on TikTok that other wives may want to adopt, People reported on March 9. A video on the social media site shows her husband, Nick, talking when Amber plays orchestra music from her phone. When Nick asks, "What is that? What are you playing?" Amber says, "It's Oscars music. You know, when the speeches are too long ..." Nick's taking it well, though: "She's been doing this the whole week. Every time I tell a story! Is this gonna be the rest of my life?" One TikTok commenter suggested, "I should use this at work when guys mansplain."
Field Report
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told city council members on March 13 that rats had infested the department's building so thoroughly that they made their way into the evidence room and were eating confiscated marijuana. "They're all high," she said, according to the Associated Press. "The uncleanliness is off the charts." She elaborated, saying the building is full of mold and cockroaches, and staff suffer broken air conditioning and elevators.
That's Disappointing
The Pittsburgh Penguins planned to provide prized playthings to their passionate patrons on the evening of March 14, ESPN reported. (OK, that's enough of that.) NHL legend Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads were promised for the game against the San Jose Sharks -- but the cargo was stolen during transit. Penguins president of business operations Kevin Acklin said the team is looking forward to "resolving this theft and delivering the prized Jagr bobbleheads to their rightful homes, with our fans." The hockey great commented, "The legend of Jagr continues."
The Passing Parade
On March 5 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, a 42-year-old man was charged with battery and disorderly conduct with a weapon after his daughter called 911, saying her dad was naked and had a gun. The Smoking Gun reported the story -- and the much more compelling backstory about Deez-Nuts Lee Kroll, the defendant. In 2011, Derrick Lee Kroll, then 29, petitioned the court and paid $164.50 for a name change. On the form, Kroll, who seems to be spelling-challenged, wrote his preferred name: Dez-Nuts Lee Kroll, and said his reason for the change was that "I with out a dout HATE MY NAME." Six years later, it occurred to Dez-Nuts that he had spelled the name wrong, and he went to court to change his name again. At his recent run-in with the law, officers noted that he appeared to be intoxicated but cooperated with them. He was released on $2,000 bond.
MAR 25 - APR 07
BY ROB BREZSNYARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming days, your hunger will be so inexhaustible that you may feel driven to devour extravagant amounts of food and drink. It’s possible you will gain ten pounds in a very short time. Who Knows? You might even enter an extreme eating contest and devour 46 dozen oysters in ten minutes! APRIL FOOL! Although what I just said is remotely plausible, I foresee that you will sublimate your exorbitant hunger. You will realize it is spiritual in nature and can’t be gratified by eating food. As you explore your voracious longings, you will hopefully discover a half-hidden psychological need you have been suppressing. And then you will liberate that need and feed it what it craves!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Now would be an excellent time for you to snag a Sugar Daddy or Sugar Momma or Sugar NonBinary Nurturer. The astrological omens are telling me that life is expanding its willingness and capacity to provide you with help, support, and maybe even extra cash. dare you to dangle yourself as bait and sell your soul to the highest bidder. APRIL FOOL! was half-kidding. While I do believe it’s prime time to ask for and receive more help, support, and extra cash, I don’t believe you will have to sell your soul to get any of it. Just be yourself!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Happy Unbirthday, Libra! It's that time halfway between your last birthday and your next. Here are the presents I plan to give you: a boost in your receptivity to be loved and needed; a constructive relationship with obsession; more power to accomplish the half-right thing when it's hard to do the totally right thing; the disposal of 85 percent of the psychic trash left over from the time between 2018 and 2023; and a provocative new invitation to transcend an outworn old taboo. APRIL FOOL! The truth is, I can’t possibly supply every one of you with these fine offerings, so please bestow them on yourself. Luckily, the cosmic currents will conspire with you to make these things happen.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Now would be an excellent time to seek liposuction, a facelift, Botox, buttocks augmentation, or hair transplants. Cosmic rhythms will be on your side if you change how you look. APRIL FOOL! Everything just said was a lie. I’ve got nothing against cosmetic surgery, but now is not the right time to alter your appearance. Here’s the correct oracle: Shed your disguises, stop hiding anything about who you really are, and show how proud you are of your idiosyncrasies.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I command you to love Jesus and Buddha! If you don’t, you will burn in Hell! APRIL FOOL! I was just kidding. I was being sensationalistic to grab your attention. Here’s my real, true oracle for you: Love everybody, including Jesus and Buddha. And I mean love them all twice as strong and wild and tender. The cosmic powers ask it of you! The health of your immortal soul depends on it! Yes, Sagittarius, for your own selfish sake, you need to pour out more adoration and care and compassion than you ever have before. I’m not exaggerating! Be a lavish Fountain of Love!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you gave me permission, would cast a spell to arouse in you a case of ergophobia, i.e., an aversion to work. I think you need to take a sweet sabbatical from doing business as usual.
APRIL FOOL! I was just joking about casting a spell on you. But I do wish you would indulge in a lazy, do-nothing retreat. If you want your ambitions to thrive later, you will be wise to enjoy a brief period of delightful emptiness and relaxing dormancy. As Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein recommends, “Don’t just do something! Sit there!”
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In accordance with current astrological omens, I suggest you get the book Brain Surgery for Beginners by Steven Parker and David West. You now have the power to learn and even master complex new skills, and this would be a excellent place to start. APRIL FOOL! I was half-kidding. I don’t really think you should take a scalpel to the gray matter of your friends and family members—or yourself, for that matter. But I am quite certain that you currently have an enhanced power to learn and even master new skills. It’s time to raise your educational ambitions to a higher octave. Find out what lessons and training you need most, then make plans to get them.
PISCES (Feb 19-March 20): In the religious beliefs of Louisiana Voodoo, one God presides over the universe but never meddles in the details of life. There are also many spirits who are always intervening and tinkering, intimately involved in the daily rhythm. They might do nice things for people or play tricks on them—and everything in between. In alignment with current astrological omens, I urge you to convert to the Louisiana Voodoo religion and try ingenious strategies to get the spirits to do your bidding. APRIL FOOL! I don’t really think you should convert. However, believe it would be fun and righteous for you to proceed as if spirits are everywhere—and assume that you have the power to harness them to work on your behalf.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus novelist Lionel Shriver writes, "There’s a freedom in apathy, a wild, dizzying liberation on which you can almost get drunk." In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend you experiment with Shriver's strategy in the coming weeks. APRIL FOOL! I lied. In fact, Lionel Shriver's comment is one of the dumbest thoughts I have ever heard. Why would anyone want the cheap, damaged liberation that comes from feeling indifferent, numb, and paassionless? Please do all you can to disrupt and dissolve any attraction you may have to that state, Taurus. In my opinion, you now have a sacred duty to cultivate extra helpings of enthusiasm, zeal, liveliness, and ambition.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): At enormous cost and after years of study, I have finally figured out the meaning of life, at least as it applies to you Geminis. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to reveal it to you unless you send me $1,000 and a case of Veuve Clicquot champagne. I’ve got to recoup my investment, right?! APRIL FOOL! Most of what I just said was a dirty lie. It’s true that I have worked hard to uncover the meaning of life for you Geminis. But I haven’t found it yet. And even if did, I would of course provide it to you free. Luckily, you are now in a prime position to make dramatic progress in deciphering the meaning of life for yourself.
CANCER
21-July 22): For a limited time only, you have permission from the cosmos to be a wildly charismatic egomaniac who brags incessantly and insists on getting your selfish needs met at all times and in all places. Please feel free to have maximum amounts of narcissistic fun, Cancerian! APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating a bit, hoping to offer you medicinal encouragement so you will stop being so damn humble and self-effacing all the time. But the truth is, now is indeed an excellent time to assert your authority, expand your clout, and flaunt your potency and sovereignty.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Michael Scott was a character in the TV sitcom The Office. He was the boss of a paper company. Played by Leo actor Steve Carell, he was notoriously selfcentered and obnoxious. However, there was one famous scene will urge you to emulate. He was asked if he would rather be feared or loved. He replied, "Um, easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Be like Michael Scott, Leo! APRIL FOOL! i was halfkidding. It's true I'm quite excited by the likelihood that you will receive floods of love in the coming weeks. It’s also true that I think you should do everything possible to boost this likelihood. But I would rather that people be amazed and pleased at how much they love you, not afraid.
SEWING, ALTERATIONS, MENDING & REPAIRS. Maple City, Maralene Roush 231228-6248
COMPUTER PROBLEMS?: I can fix your computer, tablet, phone or TV and show you how to use it. If it’s time to replace it I’ll help you find the best device for your needs. Call James Downer at Advent Tech, your high tech handyman. 231-492-2087
THEPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TC RFP GRANT APPLICATION: The Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City is beginning its 2024 Request for Proposals process to award four grants to local nonprofits To apply, please complete the form form and submit by April 16, 2024. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18r8hv p43jsc2nrc6NSblFYQ8FyRpyv8YsEu1y DwQW1A/viewform?ts=65df5e68&edit_ requested=true
PETOSKEY POT PETITION DRIVE NEEDS PAID CIRCULATORS: $8+ per signature canvassing voter households. 18+ Call Steve 219.617.7232
MR. GETITDONE: If I can’t I will let you know who can. Call Mike 231-871-1028. Junk removal, leaf removal, grass, brush, powerwashing, anything just name it I can do it. Don’t wait to pick up the phone.
NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE IS HIRING! NMC is seeking to hire office staff, maintenance workers, and part time instructors. Read more about our open positions and apply online today NMC is an equal opportunity employer! http://jobs.nmc.edu
JUNK REMOVAL Grand Traverse Hauling and Junk Removal provides junk removal and hauling services to the Lower Northwest, MI. We proudly serve and care about keeping our community clean & beautiful. Do you have Junk or unwanted items? Are you
needing to clear out your garage or storage unit? Are you remodeling and have left over construction debris? Whatever your removal needs are. We have the solution for you. We provide fast, friendly and a professional service. You point to what needs to go and we remove it with smiling faces. 231-649-5696
